Culture and wellbeing

Culture matters

Social issues and culture have an important impact on our mental health and wellbeing.


Social issues and culture have an important impact on our mental health and wellbeing. As countries become increasingly multicultural, it becomes even more important to share people’s knowledge, experiences and different approaches used across the world to improve health and wellbeing.

One area of work we plan to undertake is international research, using the lastest online tools and techniques available.

We are also running a series of seminars and conferences, many in partnership with international bodies, to explore how cultures are changing in the face of globalisation and the impact of this on people’s wellbeing. The design of events will take into account different local issues and topics.

Contact us at enquiries@careif.org for more information.



Khat Use: Public Health Impact and Mental Illness

There is a growing international interest in the popularity of Khat, a naturally recurring stimulant plant, which contains cathinone. This can produce stimulant effects often likened to amphetamine but also quite distinct to amphetamine. The chewing of Khat is a traditional habit in some African and Arab countries but is becoming popular amongst immigrant communities living in North America, Australia, New Zealand and Europe.

There is a constant debate about the toxic effects of Khat, the increasing burden on the health, social and prison services and whether it should be an illegal substance or not. A systematic review published by Warfa et al in Social Science and Medicine highlights some of the dilemmas, moral panic and lack of research evidence to support a legal ban. Yet Khat is illegal in many countries, although not in the UK.

A research programme on Khat use is continuing at the Centre for Psychiatry, Barts & The London School of Medicine & Dentistry and as part of the extensive work programme of Careif. In collaboration with the University of Konstance, Linköping University, we are supporting a European Science Foundation Meeting from the 5th - 9th October 2009 in Sweden where the results of our work will be presented and discussed.

Further information available from
Dr Nasir Warfa
careif International Advisor (Afrika and Middle-East) on nasir.warfa@careif.org

 Systemic Review on PD
A Systematic Review of Personality Disorder in relation to Race and Ethnicity; Prevalence, Aetiology and Treatment.

The term Personality Disorder (PD) has been criticised as being culturally biased as a reflection of North American and Western European psychiatry. Difficulties will continue to be evident in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of PD if the influences of culture, race and ethnicity are not explored and its relevance determined.

To our knowledge, this is the only review that considers existing research on PD prevalence, aetiology and treatment in relation to race and ethnicity. This research is aimed to be continued and forms part of a larger project of continuing research that will look at specific PDs in relation to race and ethnicity as well as developing and reviewing PD policies involving a panel of experts in this field.

Further information available from enquiries@careif.org