Course description

This course is only offered in the Summer Session.

Global Mental Health is a growing and important field. Anthropology has a long history of contributing to debates in cross-cultural psychiatry and psychotherapy, as well as to the perennial questions of “nature versus nurture” in defining “normal” versus “pathological” ways of being human. We examine the efficacy of traditional and community-based mental health practices in a non-Western indigenous context as well as the challenges to accessible care posed by inequality and poverty, as well as the stigmas surrounding mental illness in varied cultural contexts. In addition to exploring traditional healing traditions, we will study the efficacy of new community-based forms of biomedical care, as they relate to both debates on changing health care practices and aspirational needs (e.g., bio-medicalization vs. alternative “traditional” medicine; the need for better healthcare delivery systems, etc.) and ideas of the person, well-being, and the ethical life that exist within Nilgiris societies.

Taught in Kotagiri, India.

Prerequisites

Previous course in a social science, or approval of instructor.

No upcoming classes were found.

Previously offered classes

Summer 2023: Off campus

Section ID:ANTHR 4530 101-SEM
Number:1179
Program:Cornell-Keystone NFLP Summer Program in India
Session:Summer Extra-session
Class dates:June 9-July 20, 2023
Final exam/project due:Thursday July 20, 9:30 AM - 1 PM / TBA (see Final exams)
Time / room:M-F 9:30 AM - 1 PM / TBA
Mode of instruction:In person
Credit:4
Grade:Graded
Instructor:TBA
Max. enroll:15
To enroll:

This class requires an application or instructor consent to enroll.

Taught in Kotagiri, India.