Geopsychiatry and geography: a response

Philo, C. , Callard, F. , McGeachan, C. and Parr, H. (2024) Geopsychiatry and geography: a response. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 70(1), pp. 80-86. (doi: 10.1177/00207640231195289) (PMID:37843025)

Abstract

Background: This contribution responds to three articles (we refer to all three as ‘editorials’) concerning something called ‘geopsychiatry’. Aims: To evaluate claims made in these editorials for ‘geopsychiatry’ as a new field of inquiry at the interface between geography and psychiatry. Method: Close critical reading of two editorials in the International Journal of Social Psychiatry – entitled ‘Geographical determinants of mental health’ and ‘Political determinants of mental health’ – and one in the International Review of Psychiatry – entitled ‘What is geopsychiatry?’ Results: While this geopsychiatry initiative is to be applauded, disquiet can be expressed about the almost complete neglect of a pre-existing domain of inquiry – ‘mental health geography’ or ‘the geography of mental health’ – that has long been researched by academic geographers and cognate scholars. Key trajectories in this field can be identified and related to the proposed foci for geopsychiatry. Conclusions: The hope is voiced that future developments in geopsychiatry will proceed in dialogue with the literature and practitioners of mental health geography.

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: mental health geography, geography of mental health, geopsychiatry, interdisciplinarity, geopolitics.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: McGeachan, Dr Cheryl and Callard, Professor Felicity and Parr, Professor Hester and Philo, Professor Christopher
• Authors: Philo, C., Callard, F., McGeachan, C., and Parr, H.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
• Journal Name: International Journal of Social Psychiatry
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• ISSN: 0020-7640
• ISSN (Online): 1741-2854
• Published Online: 16 October 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Author(s)
• First Published: First published in International Journal of Social Psychiatry 70(1):80-86
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons license