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?SICK NORMALITY
DE-MEDICALISING MENTAL DISTRESS

CICSI Summer School  I  6 - 7 July 2023, Wivenhoe House Hotel, Colchester

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

Why a Summer School on Sick Normality?

It is becoming the statistical norm to be diagnosed with at least one “mental disorder” in our lifetime.  A prescription epidemic in industrialised countries means one in five adults are prescribed a psychiatric drug.

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There is mounting evidence that despite huge sums invested in psychiatric research and clinical practice, psychiatry's diagnostic paradigm remains problematic, and its associated practices produce more harm than good.

 

When it has become normal that so many are in mental distress, has our normality become sick? Are there alternative ways forward except for medicalising more and more people? How can we address the driving factors behind the distress?

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The participants of the 1st CICSI Summer School gained critical understanding of the current diagnostic paradigm and the associated practices in the mental health system and their socio-political context.  They learned about frameworks for de-medicalising mental distress and shifting focus on addressing some of the underlying social ills.  It was discussed how this could inform and reform existing practices through case studies or their own examples.

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“Attending the CICSI Summer School left a profound impact on my thinking about mental distress. With an impressive line-up of speakers... [it] was 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

Schedule

Final Schedule

DAY 1

ARRIVAL AND COFFEE FROM 9:00

09:30-10:00

WHY 'SICK NORMALITY'?

Welcome by Prof Fabian Freyenhagen

10:00-11:00

THE NATURE AND FUNCTION OF MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS

Prof Joanna Moncrieff

BREAK

11:30-12:30

IS MEDICALISATION DOING HARM?

Dr James Davies

LUNCH

14:00-15:30

DISCOMFORT, DISEMBODIMENT, AND DECONSTRUCTING WHITENESS IN PSYCHOLOGY

Dr Sanah Ahsan 

BREAK

16:00-17:00

SOCIETY AND SELF IN THERAPY 

Dr Anastasios Gaitanidis 

DINNER AT WIVENHOE HOUSE HOTEL

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DAY 2

09:00-10:00

'SICK NORMALITY': WHO IS SICK?

Prof Fabian Freyenhagen

BREAK

10:15-11:15

OPEN DIALOGUE

Dr Timo Beeker

BREAK

11:30-12:30

LISTENING TO OUR VOICES: THE WORK OF THE HEARING VOICES MOVEMENT

Dr Jacqui Dillon 

LUNCH

13:30-14:30

POWER THREAT MEANING FRAMEWORK 

Dr Gareth Morgan

BREAK

14:45-16:15

OPEN FORUM INCL. CASE DISCUSSIONS  

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Location and Fees

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

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

Location

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