Forwarded from Emily
Crampton, Phd Candidate, Philosophy Department, University College London
"Call for Participants:
Concepts of Mental Health
BPPA Masterclass 2013
April 12th-13th
Location: University College London
I am writing to offer a unique opportunity for graduate researchers within the
field of philosophy and mental health. This year’s BPPA masterclass will be on
concepts of mental health. A masterclass involves a mixture of seminars,
group-workshops, presentations by students and experts and critical discussion.
The small number of participants (8-10) means that all will have a chance to
speak and discuss their research as well as getting to know others working in
similar areas. It is an excellent way of deepening and broadening understanding
of a given area and further developing one’s own research.
This year’s masterclass will be led by experts committed to furthering
interdisciplinary research into mental health issues, combining philosophical
training with clinical experience. Professor Bill Fulford is Emeritus Professor
of Philosophy and Mental Health at the University of Warwick and is a Member of
the Philosophy Faculty at the University of Oxford. His previous posts include
Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist at the University of Oxford and Special
Adviser for Values-Based Practice in the Department of Health. Dr Hanna Pickard
is a fellow of All Souls College at the University of Oxford and a Wellcome
Trust Biomedical Clinical Ethics Research Fellow in the Department of
Philosophy at the University of Oxford. She also holds a clinical post as a
therapist at the Complex Needs Service with the Oxford Health NHS Foundation
Trust. The experts will be leading group-workshops and seminars and will
present on their own research over the course of the masterclass.
The broad focus of the masterclass will be on exploring the varying conceptions
of mental health and illness and the assumptions accompanying and lying behind
these conceptions. The aim is to explore the assumptions and often false
dichotomies which shape perceptions of mental health, from the perceptions of
those in the field of psychiatry to those found amongst other medical
professionals and the non-medical public. Topics we expect to be discussed include,
but are not restricted to: free will, responsibility and related notions and
their applications and misapplications within understanding of mental health
problems, in particular in relation to addiction; The effect of neurological
research on conceptions of mental health; The distinction between cognitive
disorders and personality disorders; The extent to which mental illness can and
ought to be understood within the framework of physical illness. The precise
content of the masterclass will be in part determined by the research interests
of the participants and there will be opportunities for 6 participants to
present their own research.
To apply, please send an academic CV (including any relevant clinical or
practical experience) with a cover letter stating your area of research, the
relevance of your research to the masterclass and what you could contribute to
the masterclass (500 words max). Please also state whether you would like to
present on your research (presentations will be brief, about 20minutes each).
Please also attach a reference from your supervisor (if applicable), confirming
your interest and that you would make a valuable contribution to the
masterclass.
The masterclass will be held at University College London. Breakfast and lunch
will be provided on both days and accommodation if coming from outside of
London. There may also be some small travel bursaries available.
Deadline for applications: February 15th
Please send applications and any queries to: bppamasterclass2013@gmail.com
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/bppamasterclass2013/
Follow us on Twitter @BPPAmasterclass"
