The Open Society Public Health Program hosts an evening event with John Trainor in honor of his years of service on the Public Health Program Advisory Board.
The event features a presentation by John Trainor on his work examining how society reacts to the phenomenon of mental illness and the impact of that reaction on how people with mental illness are treated. He looks at examples from the past, reflect on how social acceptance and treatment have changed, and makes suggestions for the future of mental health care.
Speakers
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Jonathan Cohen
Speaker
Until November 2021, Jonathan Cohen was the director of the Open Society Public Health Program.
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Joanna Erdman
Moderator
Joanna N. Erdman is chair of the Public Health Program Advisory Board and Women’s Rights Program Advisory Board.
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Judith Klein
Speaker
Until March 2019, Judith Klein was a senior adviser to the Open Society Public Health Program.
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John Trainor
Speaker
John Trainor is a member of the Public Health Program Advisory Board.
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Event Recap
Building the Future of Mental Health Care
John Trainor discusses how learning from society’s past reactions to mental illness can lead to better strategies going forward.
Voices
Our Approach to Mental Health Isn’t Working
Viewing mental illness as a biological disease of the brain—inevitable, incurable, genetic—is not only wrong on scientific grounds, but neglects the experiences of the best authorities on people’s mental health: themselves.
Voices
“Rogues” and “Vagabonds” No More: Ending Africa’s Imperial Legacy of Absurd Petty Offenses
Archaic colonial era laws originally imposed to control local populations still endure in Africa, allowing police to harass and arrest people who have done nothing wrong.