Wednesday 18 May 2016

Research Seminar: Dr Richard Barry (Middlesex University)

*** Everyone Welcome! No need to book in advance *** 

Date: Thursday 19th May 
Time: 16:00-17:00  
Room: Town Hall Committee Room 2   

Dr Richard Barry (Middlesex University) 

"Psychiatric Stigma and Dehumanisation" 

Abstract: The denial of humanity to outgroups is a well-established phenomenon.  It has been explored from a variety of perspectives and with a wide range of targets, including national, ethnic, and cultural outgroups, immigrants, the homeless and drug addicts, political opponents, and the ‘mentally ill’.  The negative effects on those attributed lesser humanity include absolution of ingroup responsibility for harsh treatment of outgroup members, lower guilt for past misdeeds of the ingroup, reduced forgiveness , willingness to help, and empathy, as well as increased discrimination and avoidance of outgroup members.  It’s not a good thing.  This talk will provide an overview of the main approaches to conceptualising dehumanisation, addressing some key issues in operationalisation and analysis that make interpretation of current findings challenging.  Recent studies examining dehumanisation of people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder will also be presented.  These explore the question of whether there is a relationship between humanity denial, stigma, and the desire for social distance from people with a psychiatric diagnosis.



Thursday 12 May 2016



In case you have not seen it, the link for MHAW commencing 16th May has been updated ( with more to come) and press releases have now gone out to local newspapers. Many thanks to all of you who are offering your time. It is greatly appreciated by the Mdx  Health and Well Being Let’s Talk team and across the University.

The week culminates in, ‘diversity jam’, a mental health  fair in the Quad on Friday 20th , 1-4pm. There will be a head to head conversation/interview between Brett Kahr (well-known psychotherapist, commentator and author)  and Andrea Oskis at 2.30pm in CG48.

Do get in touch with Fiona Starr (f.starr@mdx.ac.uk) if you would like to know more and spread the word to MDX staff, students and the wider community.

There will be more information going up, so keep an eye open.

Wednesday 4 May 2016

Mental Health Awareness Week



Fiona is busy organising some amazing guest speakers from within and outside Mdx university for Mental Health Awareness Week. Thanks to all who have been involved and please circulate these links to anyone who may be interested. Mental Health Awareness Week is a national event set up by the Mental Health Foundation. Middlesex University are laying on a whole load of events following on from last year's success. Look out for Brett Kahr, Aaron Balick and  Ariel Nathanson  for starters.



Do contact Fiona if you would like any information f.starr@mdx.ac.uk

Fiona Starr



Fiona will be running a day in her committee role as  BPS SPIG (Special Interest Group for Independent Practice)  on working in Independent practice at the BPS on Wednesday 25th May. Sorry to miss the staff away day.