QUAHRC Seminar Series: Is culture relevant? Supporting Afghan Mental Health

This event launches a co-produced guide for mental health practitioners working with Afghan sanctuary seekers, and asks what is the role of qualitative research in ensuring culturally meaningful support?

This event will be held in person at the King's Strand Campus and online. 

Book tickets on our Eventbrite page here!

Seminar Abstract:

This seminar begins with a panel discussion of why the guide for mental health practitioners is so desperately needed. In doing so, the panel will highlight the importance of culturally specific versus general mental health advice, as well as the political and social context of the guide. The panel will then talk about the participatory process of making the guide and how this co-production model can be extended to other diaspora communities. 

The panel will focus on the vital role of qualitative research in exploring cultural issues around mental health, making practical recommendations for practitioners and in historicising patients. The panel discussion will end by talking through some of the key points in the guide around starting mental health conversations, culturally specific mental health symptoms and terminology, and culturally relevant treatment options, as well as next steps for the guide's dissemination. 

After the panel discussion and Q&A, you are welcome to stay for an informal discussion on how to encourage cultural humility in mental health services and support, and how to encourage participatory models of guide development.

You can access the full guide here.

Panel Speakers:

Dr Enayat Modasser - Enayat is the Chairperson of the Association of Afghan Healthcare Professionals in the UK. He graduated as a medical doctor, has a master degree in healthcare management, and a PGC in Strategic Policy Planning and Evaluation. He has worked for nearly 20 years in various leadership roles in the health sector, including the NHS.

Assiya Majgan Amini - Assiya is a peace activist, film-artist, and co-founder of Afghan Academy International. She is currently doing a PhD on the memories and experiences of loss in the Afghan Community. Assiya has also initiated the annual Afghan International Peace Conference & Festival, and hopes to eventually construct the first Afghan Library and Peace Centre in London, paying tribute to the victims of the war & applauding the resilience of those who have not lost hope.

Dr Tahmina Yousofi - Tahmina is a consultant psychiatrist in Kent. She also works as a Medical Education Fellow for Kent and Medway Medical School. She graduated from Faculty of Medicine, University of Kabul, Afghanistan. She worked for four years as an Orthopaedics doctor in the NHS. Then she trained as a Psychiatrist and became a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in the UK.

Dr Qudrat Ullah - Qudrat is a Consultant Psychiatrist in Learning Disability Psychiatry and is currently working in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (Scotland) and has extensive experience in mental illness, autism, dementia challenging behaviour and epilepsy. He also has extensive experience in Forensic Psychiatry, Mental Health and Adult with Incapacity Act Legislations. He is DMP (Designated Medical Practitioner) for Mental Welfare Scotland. Qudrat is also on the Board of Trustee for AAHP -UK and has a special interest in Transcultural psychiatry/mental health issues.