Abstract
This presentation will examine the growing centrality of wellbeing in policy and practice and in the international research community, as reflected in publications, specialist journals and by funding bodies. Despite this, there is currently insufficient research and publications on wellbeing and mental health that explore intercultural dimensions. This is particularly unfortunate at a time when there is unprecedented growth and diversity in human migration and mutual understanding of diverse cultural perspectives is of vital importance. Wellbeing and mental health are often addressed from a Western perspective, giving scant attention to valuable models, interventions and support deriving from a range of cultural traditions. For those offering services in the fields of wellbeing and mental health, there is a need to enhance understanding of the different cultural contributions to enhancing mental health and wellbeing and how these are incorporated into developing services. In this presentation, Charles Watters will outline the ways in which the establishment of the new Centre for Innovation and Research in Wellbeing aims to generate intercultural and holistic understandings of wellbeing and mental health. He will also identify ways intercultural perspectives can be of vital importance in developing health and social care services that are responsive to the needs of increasingly mobile and diverse populations.
Moderator: Dr. Dusita Phuengsamran
January 11, 2017
