The Invisible Water: How Culture Shapes Mental Illness and Healing

About this episode

Dr. Descartes Li discusses how cultural forces influence mental health and healing.

“I don’t know who discovered water, but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t a fish.” Like a fish in water, we rarely notice the cultural forces that surround us every day—especially when it comes to our mental health. Join UCSF psychiatrist Dr. Descartes Li as he dives into the invisible cultural currents that shape the human mind. From the American emphasis on “talking it out” and finding your “true self,” to the physical experience of distress in other parts of the world, this fascinating lecture will reveal how deeply our beliefs and cultural norms construct our understanding of illness, suffering and healing. About the Speakers Our speaker today is Dr. Descartes Li, a professor of clinical psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Dr. Li has spent his career at the intersection of clinical care, medical education and cultural psychiatry. Recognizing the unique mental-health needs of diverse populations, he founded and directed the UCSF Asia America Clinic to provide specialized care to the Bay Area's Asian American community. In addition to his focus on cultural psychiatry, Dr. Li is a highly respected clinical leader, serving as the director of both the UCSF…

People in this episode

Guest: Dr. Descartes Li

Topics covered

• mental health
• cultural psychiatry
• illness
• suffering
• healing
• cultural norms

Keywords

• mental illness
• cultural forces
• healing
• psychotherapy
• cultural norms

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of California, San Francisco, UCSF Asia America Clinic, UCSF Bipolar Disorder Program, Electroconvulsive Therapy Service

Places: Bay Area, Bangkok, Thailand

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