A00055 - National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month: Our Most Troubling Madness: Case Studies in Schizophrenia Across Cultures

Those who have followed my posts will note that I have a particular interest in mental health issues.  That interest is heightened during the month of July because July is National Minority Mental Health Month.

https://nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Bebe-Moore-Campbell-National-Minority-Mental-Health-Awareness-Month/Learn-About-Bebe-Moore-Campbell-National-Minority-Mental-Health-Awareness-Month

This year my focus is on the interesting oddity that has come to my attention concerning the prevalence of schizophrenia throughout the world.  From what I now understand the prevalence of schizophrenia is statistically the same throughout the world.  However, the severity of the illness and the societal acceptance of those afflicted with the illness varies depending upon the cultural norms that predominate with the local people.  Of particular note, in reviewing the programs presented at the May 2022 American Psychiatric Association convention held in New Orleans, I was intrigued by the title of a presentation made on Monday, May 23, 2022.  The title of the program was  "The Voices of Spirit and the Voices of Madness" and the presenter was Tanya Marie Luhrmann.   I am not a member of the APA but I was able to find Ms. Luhrmann's profile on wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanya_Luhrmann

and I was able to find her Stanford University profile

https://profiles.stanford.edu/tanya-luhrmann

After reading all this, I was hooked.  I immediately ordered her book Our Most Troubling Madness: Case Studies in Schizophrenia Across Cultures.  I plan on reading it during this month of July and quoting some of the salient passages.  For those who may be similarly inclined, please consider reading the book with me.

Peace,

Everett "Skip" Jenkins

Fairfield, California

July 4, 2022