Teaching Matters

Teaching blended cultures; a comparison of international and domestic UTAS students' attitudes to mental illness

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Teaching Matters | Presentation Details |

Title

Teaching blended cultures: a comparison of international and domestic UTAS students’ attitudes to mental illness


Author(s)

Dr Valerie Williams, Dr Jeremy Prichard, A/Prof Rick Snell


Subtheme

Student Blends


Presentation Type

Spotlight on Practice


Keywords

mental illness, perceptions, biases, cultural differences


Room

Social Sciences 211


Time

12.45-13.45


Abstract

New York Law School Professor Michael Perlin (2003) has long argued that prejudices against people with mental illnesses pervade society and constitute a widely practiced and socially acceptable form of bigotry. He calls these prejudices collectively "sanism".  This presentation focuses on an assessment of sanist beliefs among a small cohort of international students (n=15) and domestic students (n=63). Preliminary analysis suggests some differences in the domestic and international students' views of people with a mental illness. While acknowledging the need for future research on this topic, the presentation reflects on the challenges of teaching fundamental legal concepts (eg discrimination) across cultures. Consideration is also given as to how biases against mental illness may exacerbate difficulties for law students who themselves experience mental illnesses, such as depression, during their law degree.

Reference

M. L. (2003). You have discussed lepers and crooks: Sanism in clinical teaching. Clinical Law Review, 9, 683.

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