2024/2025

Sociology of mental health and illness: theoretical and methodological approaches

Type: Mago-Lego

Delivered by: School of Sociology

Open to: students of all HSE University campuses

Instructors: Oxana Mikhaylova

Language: English

ECTS credits: 3

Contact hours: 32

Course Syllabus

Abstract

This course introduces to the classical and contemporary theoretical and methodological approaches to the understanding and analysis of mental health, mental illness and mental health care in sociology with the specific focus on Russian cultural context. During the course we are going to 1) compare perspectives on mental health and illness in psychology, psychiatry, psychoanalysis and sociology. Furthermore, 2) we will discuss social stratification based on on the intersection between individual mental health and gender, class, race, ethinicty, age and the other dimensions of the social inequality. Also, the topics of 3) patient narratives on mental health and illlness; 4) mental health and digitalization, 5) mental health care as profession and 6) in connection with criminal justice will be covered. Besides scientific papers discussion, participants of the course will be able to plan and conduct their own study in the field of sociology of mental health. It will be possible to use different methodological designs: qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method. The course will be of interest to the wide public of social scientists and beyond wishing to acquire sociological knowledge on mental health and illnesses.