In 2024, MQ Psychological Well being Analysis created a chance, developed and funded by Wellcome, to help researchers outdoors psychiatry, psychology, and neuroscience to use daring and novel concepts and strategies from their self-discipline to psychological well being science. On this Transdisciplinary Analysis Grant sequence, we’ll undergo every examine, and clarify why the outcomes are important to the way forward for psychological well being interventions.
Psychological well being and geography would possibly seem to be two very totally different matters, however they’re deeply related. Human geography is the examine of how people work together with their bodily setting, together with their evolution, methods for survival, useful resource utilization, and regional cultures. Human geographers who focus on psychological well being are how the areas and locations we reside in have an effect on our experiences of psychological sickness—and the way these experiences, in flip, form the world round us.
Dr Cheryl McGeachan’s Analysis on Geography and Psychological Well being
Dr Cheryl McGeachan and her staff studied how geography influences psychological well being. They examined how understanding this connection may assist design extra caring, supportive environments and problem programs that create inequality and oppression.
Transferring Past Conventional Psychiatric Views
As an alternative of inspecting psychological sickness purely from medical or psychiatric views, the staff targeted on the lived expertise. Over six months, the staff explored a number of social sciences and humanities research, on the lookout for real-life experiences that conventional analysis usually overlooks. They found items of tales and expressions that present a vivid understanding of what it’s prefer to cope with psychological well being challenges.
Artistic Approaches to Understanding Psychological Well being
They took issues a step additional by collaborating with knowledgeable storyteller to reimagine the traditional story of The Lonely Fisherman, incorporating themes from their analysis. In addition they organized a artistic writing workshop the place individuals with firsthand expertise may craft their very own “geo-stories.” These tales examined how totally different locations and environments, whether or not actual, emotional, or imagined, form individuals’s psychological well being experiences. The staff then created a group useful resource pack to assist others share their tales and learn the way geography influences psychological well being.
The Highly effective Hyperlink Between Place and Psychological Well being
What emerged from this venture had been deeply private, advanced accounts of how the “the place” issues simply as a lot because the “what” in psychological well being. These tales confirmed that the environment, whether or not they’re constructive or detrimental, is integral in shaping our psychological well being. Taking note of these insights is necessary for creating higher analysis and options.
Inspiring Future Analysis and Motion
Cheryl’s staff goals to encourage extra analysis on this space and encourage extra researchers to include lived expertise. By connecting particular person experiences to the locations the place individuals reside and work together, there may be potential to supply higher help for everybody’s psychological well being.
