Alternative Psychiatric Narratives: a 1.5 day conference. (360G-Wellcome-104355_Z_14_Z)

We propose a 1.5 day conference at Birkbeck in London for postgraduate and early career researchers to explore the theme of alternative psychiatric narratives. This aims to investigate new approaches to histories and experiences of psychiatry in its broadest sense, by considering overlooked stories, new sources and approaches, and the very question of narrative in psychiatry itself. We anticipate that researchers across the humanities and social sciences will engage with the topic, that the narratives under consideration will include a range of styles and media, and that there will be challenges to the constructions and uses of psychiatric narratives themselves. We will also welcome discussions of psychiatric encounters occurring outside formal psychiatric spaces, and the engagement of those who fall outside the doctor-patient dyad, such as non-medical staff and activists. The event will include a keynote speech given by an established academic, Dr Mathew Thomson, followed by presentations from junior scholars and a networking reception in the evening. If funding allows, this traditional conference format will be enhanced by a concluding roundtable discussion of invited participants and a final event open to the public.