In this episode I am once again joined by Dr Chencho Dorji, Bhutan’s first psychiatrist and the Professor of Psychiatry at Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences.

Dr Dorji reveals the challenges he faced establishing modern psychiatrist in Bhutan, a culture heavily invested in a supernatural model of mental illness. He recounts stories of patients possessed by ghosts, local avatars of Shiva, reincarnations of Padmasambhava and more.

Dr Dorji explains the role of religion and superstition in stigmatising mental illness, and considers whether shamanistic rituals and other traditional healing methods can co-exist with modern medical practices.

Dr Dorji also warns that mental illness in general, and borderline personality disorder in particular, is on the rise on Bhutan and shares his vision for a greater collaboration between modern medicine, the clergy, shamans, and Sowa Rigpa healers.

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep245-padmasambhava-psychosis-dr-chencho-dorji-2

Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro

01:04 - Return to Bhutan to establish psychiatry

05:40 - Programme to train primary healthcare staff

06:18 - Advocating for community based mental health services

10:38 - DANIDA funding and mental health survey

12:07 - Collaboration with and educating traditional healers

13:47 - Locating and treating cases in remote communities

18:13 - What kinds of mental illness is commonly found in Bhutan?

19:29 - Challenges identifying depression

21:16 - The stigma of epilepsy

22:50 - Community fear of contagion of mental illness

26:55 - Culture of taboo and about mental illness in Bhutan

29:00 - Impact of the pandemic

30:29 - Using social media to educate

31:22 - Psychological first aid

35:09 - Why is South Asian psychology and psychology training weak?

37:41 - Mental health as a luxury for the rich

40:40 - Borderline personality disorder encounters

43:36 - Rise in cases of BPD in Bhutan

45:05 - Social changes in Bhutan causing rise in mental illness

49:10 - Chronic psychosis and social disturbance

51:26 - Lack of compassion for BPD

52:17 - Economic aspiration and the rat race

54:36 - Overlap and clash with religious professionals

56:21 - Buddhism and shamanism in Bhutan

58:05 - Use of rituals in healing mental illness

59:00 - Personal indifference towards Buddhism

01:00:19 - Challenges engaging with Sowa Rigpa practitioners

01:02:39 - Educating Sowa Rigpa doctors about mental health

01:03:34 - Do traditional healing modalities have a role in modern medicine?

01:04:17 - Different kinds of monk

01:05:41 - Religious control of the population

01:07:33 - Difficulties communicating with clergy

01:09:58 - Karma and the importance of openness

01:10:56 - Navigating patients’ supernatural world views

01:14:42 - Example of a manic patient claiming to be Guru Rinpoche

01:17:18 - Impact on families

01:18:05 - Cases of entity possession and mass hysteria

01:24:38 - Possession by Lord Shiva

01:29:58 - Advice for working with traditional healers and shamans

01:31:01 - Future challenges of mental health in Bhutan

01:34:41 - Explosion of mental illness, obesity, and substance abuse

01:35:43 - Neglect of the elderly

01:37:31 - A model for the third world

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Previous episode with Dr Chencho Dorji:

- https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep237-bhutans-first-psychiatrist-dr-chencho-dorji

To find out more about Dr Chencho Dorji, visit:

- https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057403100633

For more interviews, videos, and more visit:

- www.guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James