The A Project invites you to break your daily routine and take some time to revisit and rethink the concept of mental health during a weekend retreat with lovely people in a lovely place away from the city!

Our objective through this retreat is to provide a more nuanced view of mental illness and reclaim the narrative from an invalidating society on the one hand and the reductionist trend of medicalization on the other. We will explore difficult questions regarding the objectivity and reliability of the definition, diagnosis and treatment of mental illness and the implications of each on the autonomy and agency of concerned individuals.

Each participant will receive a booklet containing book excerpts, academic articles, opinion pieces and personal stories before the retreat. Participants are invited to read the entire booklet and delve into one or two pieces in more depth, present them to the group and lead the discussion that follows.

Due to limited availability of resources in Arabic, most of the reading material will be in English. If uncomfortable with English, do let us know once selected to assign you texts that you would be more comfortable with. Discussions at the retreat will take place primarily in Arabic and we will simplify any other language used as much as possible during discussions.

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Who can apply? Anyone except practicing psychologists and psychiatrists, as some participants may be people who have sought treatment from you at one point or another.

Retreat date: Evening of Friday December 10 - Sunday evening December 12, 2021

Location: TBA (details to be announced once you're selected).

Costs: Free of charge - your stay and meals will be covered by The A Project - donations are always welcome for more retreats to happen!

Fill out this form to apply to the retreat!

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Deadline to apply: Evening of Sunday November 14th, 2021.

You will hear back from us within 48 hours of that deadline.

Please note that the sooner you apply, and are chosen, the earlier you can receive the required reading materials.