Does caring for mental health look the same in different parts of the world? How does culture shape the understanding of well-being, family life, ways of coping with crises, and the search for help, meaning in life, and even death? Participants of the Euro-Asian Scientific Congress on Mental Health, funded by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) will explore these questions. The Congress will take place on 25-28 August 2026 at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Gdańsk.
Although mental health is often perceived as a universal concept, its understanding is deeply rooted in cultural contexts and diverse scientific paradigms. In Europe, psychosocial and biomedical approaches tend to dominate, emphasizing individual autonomy and the role of professional psychological and psychiatric support. In many Asian countries, however, psychological suffering is often interpreted through relational and spiritual frameworks, with a stronger emphasis on maintaining social harmony, while support is frequently sought from family members and respected figures within local communities.
This cross-cultural perspective on mental health is the central theme of the Congress, organized as part of the international NAWA Strategic Partnerships Program titled “Applied Social Psychology in an Intercultural Context: Synergies of UG with Vietnam”(ASPIC), together with two partners from Vietnam: the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University (USSH VNU), and the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) and also social partner BasicNeeds Vietnam specialized with evidence-based treatments for common mental health conditions. “The Congress is the culmination of collaborative research conducted by teams involved in the project, which is why our symposium program is so diverse. It includes topics such as neurodiversity in cultural contexts, family psychology and perinatal issues, gender studies, well-being, and even near-death experiences,” says Joanna Różycka-Tran, PhD, DSc, Professor at the University of Gdańsk, lider of the project. “The aim of the Congress is to exchange knowledge, experiences, and innovative practices in the field of mental health, while fostering dialogue between researchers and practitioners from Europe and Asia or the USA, including across different scientific paradigms.”
Congress participants will take part in workshops, lectures and scientific sessions devoted to topics such as the importance of family relationships and parenting, gender-related issues, role of spirituality in mental well-being and consciousness studies in the context of mental health. The keynote speakers include internationally renowned scholars:
- Professor Susan Ayers - psychologist and therapist specializing in perinatal mental health at the Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research, University of London (UK)
- Professor Jennifer Bosson - social psychologist from University of South Florida, whose research focuses on identity, gender, and social stereotypes.
- Professor Franco A. Carnevale - psychologist and ethicist affiliated with McGill University, founder of the international initiative VOICE (Views On Interdisciplinary Childhood Ethics), which focuses on ethical aspects of child care.
- Professor Loren Toussaint - professor at Luther College, whose research examines the role of religiosity, spirituality, and forgiveness in mental and physical health.
- Professor Kevin Nelson - neurologist from University of Kentucky, author of The Spiritual Doorway in the Brain, and member of the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine. His work has been described as a “milestone in understanding human nature.”
- Dr. Michael Nahm - researcher affiliated with the Institute for Frontier Areas of Psychology and Mental Health, studying poorly understood and unconventional anomalies of consciousness, near-death experiences, coma experiences, and so-called terminal lucidity, as well as their philosophical and evolutionary-biological implications for mental health.
Dr. Marieta Pehlivanova - researcher at University of Virginia, where she studies the neuropsychological aspects of altered states of consciousness and their significance for mental health.
The official opening ceremony of the Congress will take place on 26 August 2026 at 4:30 PM at the St. John’s Centre under the patronage of the Baltic Sea Cultural Centre in Gdańsk, the institutional partner of the event. The inaugural lecture, combining the Eastern and Western paradigms, will be delivered by dr Pim Van Lommel. Earlier, at 2:30 PM, a meditation in the Vietnamese Zen tradition will take place in the historic attic of St. John’s, for those interested in supporting mental health. Lectures will be held at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Gdańsk. The full program is available at: https://aspic.ug.edu.pl/program/
The organizers emphasize that an important aspect of the Congress is its open and accessible format - participation in the workshops, opening ceremony and lectures is free of charge. As a result, the event is addressed not only to the academic community but also to all residents of the region interested in mental health from an intercultural perspective.
Detailed information about the Congress is available at: https://aspic.ug.edu.pl/congress-2026/
Organizer: University of Gdańsk
Institutional Partner: Baltic Sea Cultural Centre (Nadbałtyckie Centrum Kultury)
Patronage: Polish Social Psychological Society with Cross-Cultural Psychology Section of PSPS
Honorary Patronage: Mieczysław Struk, Marshal of the Pomeranian Voivodeship, Beata Rutkiewicz, Pomeranian Voivode, Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, Mayor of Gdańsk, Rector of the University of Gdańsk, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Gdańsk, Director of the Institute of Psychology, University of Gdańsk
Media Patronage: Radio Gdańsk, University of Gdańsk Film Centre, Gazeta Uniwersytecka, Radio Mors
Contact:
Until July 2026: Magdalena Iwanowska - magdalena.iwanowska@ug.edu.pl
In August 2026: Joanna Różycka-Tran - joanna.tran@ug.edu.pl