About Us

Learn more about the SSPC and our work in cultural psychiatry

Our Mission

The Society for the Study of Psychiatry and Culture (SSPC) is a nonprofit, interdisciplinary organization devoted to furthering research, clinical care and education in cultural aspects of mental health and illness. We aim to promote cultural psychiatry in North American professional groups and to collaborate with national and international organizations in the development of policy and practice. Primarily rooted in North America, we provide an interface for domestic and international interests of cultural psychiatry and mental health.

Become a Member

We have a diverse international membership and encourage participation of professionals and students from psychiatry, psychology, nursing, and the social sciences who are at various stages of practice, teaching or training. We focus attention on the importance of cultural factors in psychiatric care, education, and research through group and individual efforts.

Membership has extensive benefits for your career, your work, and your patients. Enjoy reduced fees for our Annual Meeting, discounts on a subscription to Transcultural Psychiatry, and much more.

Join Our Annual Meetings

We meet annually to present the latest research in cultural psychiatry, and to coordinate society efforts in medical and psychiatric education. We sponsor the John Spiegel and Charles Hughes Fellowships, awards which support trainees’ travel expenses to attend the annual meeting.