ADDRESSING THE SOCIAL CONTEXT OF DISTRESS

CICSI Summer School 10-12 July 2024, Wivenhoe House Hotel, Colchester

“The summer school is an eye-opener for people who want to know about the limitations of mainstream psychiatry, and what alternatives there are...”

"It's been really a highlight of my academic life for the past two years. I'll definitely look forward to the next edition!"

“The summer school was a fantastic learning and networking opportunity.."

What is the role of the social context in distress and how to address it?

The Centre for Investigating Contemporary Social Ills (CICSI)

together with the School of Philosophical, Historical and Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Essex (PHAIS) present

the 2nd CICSI Summer School

taught by leading experts and practitioners from four countries, working on the social context of mental distress, including Professor Richard Wilkinson, co-author of The Spirit Level.
The programme builds on the 1st CICSI Summer School held in 2023, on De-Medicalising Distress.

The Summer School is taught in person and runs over 3 days and consists of a mixture of lectures, interactive exercises, and case study discussions.

Day 1 is focused on psychiatry, its social function, and its relationship to the social context of mental distress
Day 2 focuses on the social context of psychic suffering, investigating links to inequalities, to pressures at work, to traumas of social and personal histories, and to ways our selves are affected under these conditions.
Day 3 introduces existing and emerging practical and policy initiatives within and beyond the mental health system to address this social context.

Suitable for GPs, psychiatrists, counsellors and therapists, and other mental health professionals; policy-makers; social workers; experts-by-experience/service users/survivors; and researchers and students from various social and health related fields.

The participants will gain a critical understanding of the relationship between the social context of mental distress and the practices in the mental health system. Shifting focus to some of the underlying social ills and how they affect the self, we will discuss some of the emerging initiatives to understand and address the social context inside and outside of the mental health systems.

You are welcome to bring your own case studies and examples and questions from your work or research.

Registrations now open

“Attending the CICSI Summer School left a profound impact on my thinking about mental distress. With an impressive line-up of speakers... an elegant exploration of a paradigm shift in mental health discourse.

The organisers had meticulously carved a space that fostered curiousity and open dialogue and provided a warm and inclusive atmosphere. There were thought-provoking presentations, with complex ideas communicated in accessible ways and altogether engaging speakers."

“Great atmosphere for discussion and opportunity to approach the speakers and talk to them directly in very informal way. Very insightful content, giving material for deeper thinking on the topic, even for people who are not from the psychology/psychiatry field. Definitely worth it.”

“I came expecting some intellectual debate that would be interesting. I left motivated to incorporate change into my working life teaching on a mental health programme...

CICSI offers a glimpse behind the curtain of the big players in the world of psychiatry and encourages us to think and consider alternatives and to realise that the answers to suffering and illness are not so far out of reach.”

Speakers

University College London

Prof Joanna Moncrieff

Professor of Critical and Social Psychiatry; practising psychiatrist; and one of the founding members and co-chair of the Critical Psychiatry network. Author of several books, including The Myth of the Chemical Cure (2008), A Straight Talking Introduction to Psychiatric Drugs (2009), and The Bitterest Pills (2013). Recently lead author of a systematic umbrella review of the serotonin theory of depression.

University of Essex

Prof Fabian Freyenhagen

Professor of Philosophy and member of the Essex Human Rights Centre. Working in areas of Social and Political Philosophy and Philosophy of Psychiatry, with a focus on mental distress and its social conditions, and on autonomy in the contexts of care. Author of Adorno's Practical Philosophy: Living Less Wrongly, and papers on Critical Theory and Social Pathology. CICSI's founding director.

Activist and Trainer, Hearing Voices Network

Dr Jacqui Dillon

Expert-by-experience; author; activist; speaker and trainer; and former National chair of the Hearing Voices Network in England. Honorary Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at the UEL. Editor of several books, including Demedicalising Misery and Models of Madness.

University College London

Prof Anthony David

Director, UCL Institute of Mental Health; and neuropsychiatrist at the National Hospital for Neurology, Queen Square UCLH, sine 2018; Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Academy of Medical Sciences; President of the International Neuropsychiatric Association (2022-24). Co-edited several books including, The Self in Neuroscience and Psychiatry(2003), and Insight and Psychosis (2nd Ed) (2004); and Organic Psychiatry (2009).

Brandenburg Medical School, Germany

Dr Timo Beeker

Practicing psychiatrist and academic researcher from Germany. Works with the Open Dialogue approach, seeking to find non-diagnostic ways forward within the existing psychiatric institutions. Interested in processes of medicalization (and specifically psychiatrisation), how they are promoted and how they are experienced or resisted. His research includes work on psychiatrisation in emergency departments and in relation to children as well as on participatory-collaborative research.

The Equality Trust

Prof Richard Wilkinson

Professor Emeritus of Social Epidemiology at the University of Nottingham Medical School; played a formative role in international research on the social determinants of health and on the societal effects of income inequality; wrote The Spirit Level and The Inner Level with Kate Pickett; co-founded The Equality Trust; received various international honours (Solidar’s Silver Rose Award; Community Access Unlimited’s ‘Humanitarian of the Year’ Award; Charles Cully Memorial medal from the Irish Cancer Society).

Kings College London

Prof Ben Baumberg Geiger

Professor in Social Science and Health, co-lead on the 'Work, welfare reform and mental health' programme within the ESRC Centre for Society & Mental Health; co-lead of the 'Welfare at a (Social) Distance' project, an ESRC rapid-response project looking at the benefits system during Covid-19. Helped co-found the University of Kent's Q-Step centre. For a time in 2015-16 he was also on secondment as a Policy Advisor at the Department of Work and Pensions.

University of York

Dr Annie Irvine

Lecturer in Social Policy and Public Management, School for Business and Society. Affiliate of the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health. Research focuses on the complex interplay of mental health, welfare systems and employment, in particular illuminating the personal, social and structural influences on transitions between employment and welfare in the context of mental distress. Research seeks to bring critical and conceptual lenses into productive dialogue with real-world policy and practice.

Psychoanalyst, author, formerly of EHESS

Prof Françoise Davoine

Professor Emeritus at the Centre for the Study of Social Movements, École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) in Paris, where she and Jean-Max Gaudillière conducted a weekly seminar on Madness and the Social Link for 40 years. Author of many articles and books, including Wittgenstein’s Folly, Mother Folly, and – with Jean-Max Gaudillière – History Beyond Trauma, Madness and the Social Link, and The Birth of a Political Self.

Director, Relational Psychoanalytic Therapy

Dr Anastasios Gaitanidis

Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist with many years of experience, including as supervisor, Researcher and Academic (including at Regent's University); Theory Editor at the European Journal of Psychotherapy and Counselling. Author and editor of several books, including The Sublime in Everyday Life and The Male in Analysis.

Clinical psychologist, Systemic Family Therapist

Dr Taiwo Afuape

Clinical Team Lead at CAMHS, previously set up community psychology services for women escaping domestic violence, homeless people, people misusing substances, travelling communities of Roma and Irish heritage and refugee people; has worked in a Human Rights charity for survivors of torture. Author of books including Power, Resistance and Liberation in Therapy with Survivors of Trauma: To Have Our Hearts Broken and co-editor of Liberation Practices: Towards Emotional Wellbeing Through Dialogue.

Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Integrata Trieste, Italy

Dr Roberto Mezzina

Former Director of the Mental Health Department in Trieste, a WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training during his tenure. Publications including on Basaglia’s impact, deinstitutionalization, and empowerment; supporting the development of community-based services and programs, which are person-centred and value-based (human rights), including in a London Borough.

Université Lumiere Lyon 2 and

Centre Max Weber, France

Dr Benoît Eyraud

sociologist and anthropologist, expert on welfare and civic law as well as participatory action research. Scientific lead of a program of citizen research on the exercise of the human rights of people made vulnerable by old age, illness, disability.

GP in Tower Hamlets

Professor Sir Sam Everington

GP in Tower Hamlets since 1989 at the Bromley by Bow Centre, with over 100 projects under its roof supporting the wider determinants of health. Chair of Tower Hamlets CCG and the Chair of the 32 London CCG Chairs. Council Member of the BMA and Royal College of GPs. OBE for services to inner city primary care, International Award of Excellence in Health Care and a knighthood for services to primary care. Fellow and Honorary Professor of Queen Mary University of London and Vice President of the Queen’s Nursing. Institute.

Centre for Mental Health

Ed Davie

Lead author of A Mentally Healthier Nation: Towards a ten-year, cross-government plan for better prevention, equality and support; designer and deliverer of the Thrive LDN Mentally Healthier Councils training programme delivered to 532 elected members in 32 boroughs; over a decade as a Local Government Association Expert Peer advising councils all over England, and serving as a senior Lambeth Councillor including as Cabinet Member and LGIU-award-winning scrutiny chair.

Schedule

Provisional Schedule

DAY 1

~ ARRIVAL AND COFFEE FROM 9:30 ~

10:00-10:15

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION

Dr Polona Curk

10:15-11:30

THE HISTORY OF PSYCHIATRY REVISITED

Prof Fabian Freyenhagen

BREAK WITH REFRESHMENTS 11:30 - 11:45

11:45-13:00

THE SOCIAL FUNCTIONS OF PSYCHIATRY

Prof Joanna Moncrieff

~ LUNCH 13:00 - 14:15 ~

14:15-15:30

IATROGENIC HARMS AND THE SOCIAL

Dr Jacqui Dillon

BREAKWITH REFRESHMENTS 15:30 - 16:00

16:00-17:45

PANEL DISCUSSION ABOUT PSYCHIATRY AND THE SOCIAL CONTEXT OF DISTRESS

Dr Timo Beeker, Prof Anthony David, Dr Jacqui Dillon, Prof Joanna Moncrieff

Chaired by Prof Fabian Freyenhagen

~ DINNER 18:30 - 20:30 ~

Schedule

DAY 2

~ COFFEE FROM 8:45 ~

09:00-10:30

INEQUALITIES AND DISTRESS

Prof Richard Wilkinson

BREAK WITH REFRESHMENTS 10:30 - 10:45

10:45-12:00

LINKING TRAUMA WITH OPRESSION AND CONSCIOUSNESS WITH ACTION

Dr Taiwo Afuape

~ LUNCH 12:00 - 13:15 ~

13:15-14:30

WORK AND DISTRESS

Prof Ben Baumgarten Geiger & Dr Annie Irvine

BREAK WITH REFRESHMENTS 14:30 - 15:00

15:00-16:15

TRAUMAS OF SOCIAL AND PERSONAL HISTORIES

Prof Françoise Davoine

BREAK WITH REFRESHMENTS 16:15 - 16:30

16:30-17:45

THE SELF UNDER SOCIAL CONDITIONS

Dr Anastasios Gaitanidis

~ DINNER 18:30 - 20:30 ~

Schedule

DAY 3

~ COFFEE FROM 8:45 ~

09:00-10:15

HOUSING FIRST

Dr Benoît Eyraud

BREAK WITH REFRESHMENTS 10:15 - 10:45

10:45-12:00

TRIESTE'S WORLD FAMOUS COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM

Dr Roberto Mezzina

~ LUNCH 12:00 - 13:00 ~

13:00-14:15

SOCIAL PRESCRIBING

Professor Sir Sam Everington

BREAK WITH REFRESHMENTS 14:15 - 14:30

14:30-15:45

TOWARDS A TEN-YEAR GOVERNMENT PLAN FOR A MENTALLY HEALTHIER NATION

Ed Davie

15:45-16:30

CLOSING PLENUM: HOW TO ADDRESS THE SOCIAL CONTEXT INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CLINIC

Prof Fabian Freyenhagen

Location and Fees

The Summer School took place in the beautiful Wivenhoe House Hotel at the University of Essex Campus.

Location

Wivenhoe House, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex, CO4 3FA

ACCOMMODATION

If you would like to book accommodation please indicate this on the application form, telling us also which of the two options you prefer.

a) WIVENHOE HOUSE HOTEL: 4-star hotel and also our conference venue. Please note that the rates below are discounted and are only available with the Early Bird Applications. For the applications after 30th April, you will need to book directly with the venues at their standard rates.

There are three-levels of rooms available:

Classic double: £127 per person per night (assuming single occupancy).
Superior double: £162 per person per night (assuming single occupancy).
Superior Balcony: £182 per person per night (assuming single occupancy).

All rooms/rates in the hotel include breakfast.
If you are requiring a double occupancy, please let us know and we can quote you the price for a double occupancy

b) ESSEX UNIVERSITY ACCOMMODATION: ensuite single rooms with a shared kitchen: £49 per night.

Fees

EARLY BIRD FEE (extended until 14th May) £600

STANDARD FEE (from 15th May) £660

The fee includes:

three days of lectures, exercises, and case study discussions with world-leading experts on the social context of mental distress
course material
daily lunches and refreshments
2 evening meals
a certificate of completion

To take advantage of our Early Bird Discount, please complete your application and submit payment by 30th April.

The delivery of this course is dependent on a minimum of 30 applicants. In the unlikely event that this minimum is not met, we would have to reconsider the feasibility of running this course.

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