This far-reaching volume analyzes the social, cultural, political, and economic factors contributing to mental health issues and shaping treatment options in the Asian and Pacific world. Multiple lenses examine complex experiences and needs in this vast region, identifying not only cultural issues at the individual and collective levels, but also the impacts of colonial history, effects of war and disasters, and the current climate of globalization on mental illness and its care. These concerns are located in the larger context of physical health and its determinants, worldwide goals such as reducing global poverty, and the evolving mental health response to meet rising challenges affecting the diverse populations of the region. Chapters focus on countries in East, Southeast, and South Asia plus Oceania and Australia, describing:
· National history of psychiatry and its acceptance.
· Present-day mental health practice and services.
· Mental/physical health impact of recent social change.
· Disparities in accessibility, service delivery, and quality of care.
· Collaborations with indigenous and community approaches to healing.
· Current mental health resources, the state of policy, and areas for intervention.
A welcome addition to the global health literature, Mental Health in Asia and the Pacific brings historical depth and present-day insight to practitioners providing services in this diverse area of the world as well as researchers and policymakers studying the region.
· National history of psychiatry and its acceptance.
· Present-day mental health practice and services.
· Mental/physical health impact of recent social change.
· Disparities in accessibility, service delivery, and quality of care.
· Collaborations with indigenous and community approaches to healing.
· Current mental health resources, the state of policy, and areas for intervention.
A welcome addition to the global health literature, Mental Health in Asia and the Pacific brings historical depth and present-day insight to practitioners providing services in this diverse area of the world as well as researchers and policymakers studying the region.
"This wide-ranging collection advances a comprehensive overview of national approaches to the care of the mentally ill in the Asia-Pacific region ... . The diversity of case studies and the coherency of its central themes make this collection a valuable contribution to the expanding literature on global mental health and the influence of culture and environment in shaping the practice of psychiatric medicine and the formulation of public health policy." (Elizabeth Roberts-Pedersen, The Journal of Pacific History, Vol. 54 (1), 2019)
"This is a unique book, because of both its content and its approach. It goes without saying that it is an important book for mental health practitioners and administrators situated in Asia and the Pacific Islands and for medical historians and cultural anthropologists specializing in those regions. ... I heartily recommend this unique volume to anyone who is remotely interested in cross-cultural psychiatry and who wants to view the world through a very different lens." (Sharon Packer, metapsychology online reviews, metapsychology.mentalhelp.net, Vol. 21 (49), December, 2017)
"Mental Health in Asia and the Pacific is a groundbreaking text that examines culture and mental health through the lenses of etiology, treatment, research, and training, as well as policy making, regulation, and legislation. ... Readers are provided with endemic perspectives to help them understand mental health issues across the various countries. ... In conclusion, we applaud the contributors for taking on the huge task of covering such a diverse groupwith numerous countries, ethnicities, histories, religions, and languages." (Kevin L. Nadal and Yizhu Zhou, PsycCRITIQUES, Vol. 62 (35), September, 2017)
"This is a unique book, because of both its content and its approach. It goes without saying that it is an important book for mental health practitioners and administrators situated in Asia and the Pacific Islands and for medical historians and cultural anthropologists specializing in those regions. ... I heartily recommend this unique volume to anyone who is remotely interested in cross-cultural psychiatry and who wants to view the world through a very different lens." (Sharon Packer, metapsychology online reviews, metapsychology.mentalhelp.net, Vol. 21 (49), December, 2017)
"Mental Health in Asia and the Pacific is a groundbreaking text that examines culture and mental health through the lenses of etiology, treatment, research, and training, as well as policy making, regulation, and legislation. ... Readers are provided with endemic perspectives to help them understand mental health issues across the various countries. ... In conclusion, we applaud the contributors for taking on the huge task of covering such a diverse groupwith numerous countries, ethnicities, histories, religions, and languages." (Kevin L. Nadal and Yizhu Zhou, PsycCRITIQUES, Vol. 62 (35), September, 2017)