Survivors of Torture – Broken Minds and Voices
Tony Wright, Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture
The second seminar in the Newcastle Philosophical Society’s seminar series “Schizophrenia – 100 Years On”
Monday 28th March 2011, 7pm
The Cedar Room, Upstairs at the Dog and Parrot, 52 Clayton Street West, Newcastle, NE1 4EX.
The continuing proliferation of various types of torture means that there are no shortage of survivors of torture who seek asylum in the UK and other countries. The intensity of the torture experience leads to a range of mental health difficulties and issues for many survivors of torture. This talk will focus on client experiences often understood within the conceptualisation of schizophrenia. Re-framing these experiences both culturally and within an understanding of normal reactions to extreme circumstances, this talk and discussion will explore the possibilities for fresh understanding beyond the realm of psychopathology.
Tony Wright is a counsellor working for the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture, North East Centre. He has worked with traumatised adults for over twenty years in a range of settings, including working with people who are blind and partially sighted, people living with HIV and Aids as well as students in higher and further education. He has written about stigma and intercultural aspects of working with survivors of torture.
The talk is free and all are welcome.