Decolonization of Psychiatry in Jamaica: Madnificent Irations

This book explores the historical journey of Jamaican psychiatrists challenging European colonial 'civilizing mission' of psychiatric care. It uses psychohistoriographic cultural therapy to deinstitutionalize patients with chronic mental illness, engaging them in sociodrama and poetry writing to express and reverse stigma and reconnect them to a history of oppression. It demonstrates the need for a seminal understanding of the mental inter-relationship between slaves and slaveowners and analyzes the antipodal dialectic history of descendants of Africans enslaved in the New World.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 250 pages
Publication date: 16 September 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This captivating book delves into the historical postcolonial journey of four generations of Jamaican psychiatrists, who courageously challenged the European colonial 'civilizing mission' of psychiatric care. It intricately details the process of deinstitutionalizing patients with chronic mental illness through psychohistoriographic cultural therapy, engaging them in creative endeavors such as sociodrama and poetry writing. By expressing and reversing the stigma that perpetuated their marginalized status, these patients aimed to reconnect with a centuries-long history of oppression. Through this innovative approach, the author demonstrates that psychological decolonization necessitates a profound understanding of the intricate mental interrelationships between slaves and slaveowners. Moreover, the book explores the antipodal dialectic history of descendants of Africans enslaved in the New World by brutal British Imperialists grappling with the European psychosis of white supremacy.

Combining a comprehensive description of the sociopoem Madnificent Irations with an examination of Jamaica's political and social history, and the author's personal experiences, this profound work makes a significant contribution to decolonial literature. It will captivate students and scholars of postcolonial studies, critical race theory, psychology, and community psychology, offering valuable insights into the complexities of colonialism and its enduring impact.

Weight: 349g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030484910
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021