In the last issue of Capital Psychiatry, I shared the story of Jayjay, my beloved Blue Jay. As autumn, the bird migration season, approaches, Jayjay no longer visits, though her story continues in my heart. Yet, within that story of love, there was another story, one of trauma, care, and growth that I would like…
Zohran Mamdani’s election as Mayor of New York City deserves warm congratulations; to him, and to his wife Rama Duwaji, now the city’s First Lady. Their victory is a moment of genuine historical resonance: a young, immigrant, Muslim couple rising to lead one of the world’s most complex and diverse metropolises. In their story, many…
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…
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…
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…
In today’s interconnected world, international experiences have become an invaluable necessity for professionals across all disciplines. A global perspective is critical in psychiatry as culture, religion, language, climate and societal beliefs play pivotal roles in understanding the patients and delivering effective individualised care. Exposure to different systems and practices enriches a psychiatrist’s perspective and enhances…
Worldwide, more elections are scheduled to happen in 2024 than in previous years, with 64 countries having major polls, engaging approximately 49% of the global population in shaping their political future. Although not all of these elections are free or fair, they will all inevitably bring out dormant conflicts with heated campaigns, debates, rhetoric, and…
For about 1 year, people in Iran have been protesting the ruling Government’s violations of human rights and other social, economic, and political issues. One of the main themes of this uprising is women’s defiance against the hijab law of the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI), which enforces a stringent religious dress code. The IRI…