Wanderings: A Psychiatrist Reflects on People, Places, and Health (PDF)

by Ezra E. H. Griffith

Barbados, the Czech Republic, Great Britain, France, Italy, Morocco: Over the course of 5 years, Dr. Ezra E. H. Griffith, Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry and African American Studies at Yale University, visited these countries and more, bearing witness to and documenting acts of living in different eras and cultures. Leveraging academic literature and anthropological discourse, he considered the psychosocial experiences of the individuals he encountered.

Now, more than 50 of these brief reflections—originally published as columns in the American Psychiatric Association’s Psychiatric News—have been gathered in this qualitative, culture-based collection of narratives. Organized by theme, the pieces explore topics that include • Matters of race• Contending with disability• The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic• Sacred spaces and spirituality as a method of controlling the environment that surrounds us• Artistic expression as a means for seeking freedom

In addition to the columns, each chapter features new commentary and clinical observations as well as questions that help readers tie the very personal narratives to their own clinical work. Throughout, Griffith uses techniques of biography, photography, and medical anthropology to provide insights into theorizing about current themes in the social world.

Wanderings: A Psychiatrist Reflects on People, Places, and Health offers no hypotheses to prove or disprove, nor does it evaluate whether the individuals presented have done things the “right” or “wrong” way. Instead, it invites psychiatrists and other clinicians to consider the social worlds in which their patients are embedded and the sociocultural factors that influence health and well-being. Most importantly, it underscores each individual’s fundamental humanity and dignity.