The Healer and the Psychiatrist
- Submitting institution
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The University of Kent
- Unit of assessment
- 22 - Anthropology and Development Studies
- Output identifier
- 19292
- Type
- Q - Digital or visual media
- Publisher
- -
- Month
- August
- Year
- 2019
- URL
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https://kar.kent.ac.uk/80011/
- Supplementary information
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- Request cross-referral to
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- Output has been delayed by COVID-19
- No
- COVID-19 affected output statement
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- Forensic science
- No
- Criminology
- No
- Interdisciplinary
- No
- Number of additional authors
-
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- Research group(s)
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- Proposed double-weighted
- No
- Reserve for an output with double weighting
- No
- Additional information
- The ethnographic documentary film The Healer and the Psychiatrist (2019)
consolidates long-term medical anthropological research from the author on the
efficacy of traditional healing, the stigma of mental illness, public psychiatry and
public health challenges in Tonga. The production followed an iterative and culturally
valued research process of feedback and talanoa with key Tongan and non-Tongan
representatives in Tonga and New Zealand. Talanoa constitutes a reciprocal,
culturally sensitive and decolonising approach to multi-stakeholder collaboration
with Pacific Island peoples. The approach involves open and informal sharing of
stories and experiences.
Methodologically, the film is distinctive in how it establishes a talanoa between
protagonists - a healer and a psychiatrist - who have never met in person, to reveal an unexpected commonality in religious motivation and transformative
communication. By integrating knowledge emergent of long-established, trusting
relationships, and motivated to improve health outcomes using accessible media,
the film decolonises research and ethnographic filmmaking in Oceania.
The film’s interventionist mandate is informed by research published in key regional,
medical anthropology and transcultural psychiatry journals, which critically examined the underlying challenges in health communication in Tonga. The underlying cultural logic for the stigma associated with psychiatric treatment and the ideas, principles and protocol of traditional healing are referenced in a narrative journey that presents commonalities for future collaboration between traditional and biomedical practitioners. Professional distribution, worldwide recognition following selection and awards at regional, ethnographic and indigenous film festivals has accentuated the film’s mediative value for the global Tongan community and teaching value in universities.
Online screenings, Tongan TV broadcast, NGO collaboration and free availability in
Tonga have reached key stakeholder and wide public audiences and prompted
reviews and press coverage. The documentary and allied interactive website were
supported by GCRF funding. The author of the documentary took the roles of
director/producer, camera person and researcher.
- Author contribution statement
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- Non-English
- No
- English abstract
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