After two years of being mentored by Dr Gerry Wiviott on my journey into existential philosophy, I had the privilege of sitting down with this remarkable psychiatrist, educator, and retired McGill University faculty member for an in-depth conversation on Existentialism in Psychiatry. We explored foundational themes in existential thought, their clinical applications, and the therapeutic…
We recently read Dr. Mark Earnest’s poignant piece, Tethered, published in the New England Journal of Medicine (1), which we found both touching and unsettling. The case of Jack—a young man struggling with alcohol use disorder while caring for his ailing mother — reveals not only the tragic intersection of personal suffering and social abandonment,…
Ongoing conversations around Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) increasingly reflect the importance of grounding policy and practice in deeper moral and philosophical reflections, particularly as legislative and clinical contexts attract more attention (Attia et al. Reference Attia, Kelly and Best2025). Recent parliamentary debates in several jurisdictions – including the UK, France, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, and some US…
After completing my psychiatry residency and practising for a time in Quebec and Maryland, I recently moved to Washington, D.C. – a transition that brought both professional renewal and personal reflection. In the quiet winter days following the move to beautiful Logan Circle, as I was settling into my new home office, a chance encounter…
I had the privilege of presenting Rights-Based Existential Psychiatry in Global Mental Health at McGill University’s Workshop of the 2025 Summer Program in Social and Cultural Psychiatry. In this presentation, I also introduced my conceptual ideas related to Rights-Based Existential Psychiatry (REP) and Dynamic Eclectic Existential Psychopharmacotherapy (DEEP Therapy); two evolving frameworks grounded in human…
Purpose: This commentary aims to examine the evolving role of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies in mental health care. It highlights both the benefits (such as improved cultural responsiveness and patient outcomes) and the criticisms related to ideological overreach, tokenism and polarisation. Design/methodology/approach: A narrative, evidence-informed review of existing research and organisational practices was…
A couple of years ago, I had the privilege of hosting a conversation with two exceptional Consultation-Liaison (CL) psychiatrists, exploring some of the most pressing challenges and insights for doing a CL Psychiatry fellowship. Although this podcast was originally intended for publication through the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (ACLP), it was never formally released. After…
Diversity in academic and professional meetings is essential for fostering innovation, inclusive dialogue, and equitable representation of voices from varied backgrounds. Scientific meetings serve as critical platforms for knowledge exchange, cross-cultural collaboration, and professional networking1, 2. They also enhance the visibility of clinicians and academics, facilitating recognition and professional growth3. However, ensuring diverse participation across dimensions…
1- Mental wellbeing is not necessarily adjusting to societal norms if you can bear the hardships of the journey towards individuation. Happiness does not necessarily come from approval, validation, success, or fitting in. 2- Be aware of your Persona (what you show), your Shadow (what you hide), and your Archetypes. Do not eliminate them, but…