NEWS: The first Professorial Chair in Philosophy and Psychiatry outside Europe & a new MASTER’s degree programme

The founder and convenor of the Philosophy of Psychiatry Special Interest Group in SASOP, Professor Werdie van Staden, has recently been appointed as professor of philosophy & psychiatry, heading the new Division of Philosophy and Ethics of Mental Health at the University of Pretoria , which is the first such appointment outside Europe .

This chair in South Africa is a significant development both for the International Network for Philosophy & Psychiatry and for philosophers and mental health workers in Africa . Although representing the new discipline of philosophy and psychiatry in most parts of the world through about 40 national associations, the International Network has been drawing mainly on the philosophies of Western Europe and North America in establishing the subject's research base. Rich and productive as these philosophies have proven to be, they represent less than a third of the world, missing out on contributions to the field from a major continent such as Africa . The new chair will open up hitherto rather unexplored philosophies of Africa and create opportunities to mobilise and develop contributions from Africa to the field. Accordingly, open seminars and symposia as well as training and research opportunities towards master's and doctoral degrees in the Philosophy & Ethics of Mental Health have been set up in South Africa .

Regarding the new Master's programme, the MPhil in Philosophy & Ethics of Mental Health, professor Van Staden says the programme is intended for people who want to advance their previous education that was in a field relevant to mental health or in philosophy. They may have already obtained a master's degree, and may for example be a psychiatrist, general practitioner, psychologist, social worker, occupational therapist, music therapist or a philosopher.

Being a master's degree programme, it will draw on the unique, contextually and locally relevant contribution that a student brings to the programme. In addition, it provides a learning opportunity about the two-way connections between mental health practice and philosophy. Graduates of this programme who come from mental health practice will be equipped with philosophical skills and knowledge that bring more clarity, understanding and decision-making ability in mental health practice. Graduates of this programme who come from philosophy will gain more insight into areas of philosophy that are relevant to and enriched by the real life experiences of mental health care users and practitioners. More details of the programme are available at www.up.ac.za/pemh .

Professor Van Staden says he is keen to hear from psychiatrists and other mental health workers as well as philosophers, who want to participate in these developments and research (e-mail werdie.vanstaden@up.ac.za ). He also re-assures that, notwithstanding this new venture, he intends maintaining his continued involvement with professional and academic psychiatry in South Africa , including undergraduate and post-graduate training and research.