~ Selected Writings ~

Thinking Globally:
Dalhousie mental health expert is dedicated to improving overseas services (Page 2)

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(return to previous page) Living and working closely with new immigrants as well as First Nations people triggered his initial interest in international health. "I was the designated doctor in the gang and looked after most of the non-medical problems for everyone," he says. He realized then how important cultural factors were in basic health issues and how they can affect communication between patient and doctor.

Profoundly influenced by his experience, when Dr. Kutcher became head of psychiatry at Dalhousie University, he started developing new psychiatry programs that could link to local immigrant communities, as well as abroad-a first for the department.

Now the associate dean of international psychiatry, another department he created, Dr. Kutcher continues to put into place the lessons he learned as a labourer, flying to such countries as Trinidad, Grenada and Tanzania to try to improve the mental health systems there. Of the various new programs he's started overseas, one is an innovative training program currently being piloted in the Caribbean, which trains health workers and community leaders to identify psychiatric illness and intervene in a helpful way. "It's necessary to train everybody who works in the health sector regarding mental health and mental illness-not just physicians," he says.

Dr. Kutcher is on a mission to develop Canada's role in improving global health. "I think we have a moral imperative to do this and I think by doing so, our own lives are immensely enriched," he says. "The biggest difficulty is changing the vision from local and parochial to one that is international and celebratory of diversity. Changing the way people think requires persistence, appealing to their self-interest, appealing to a higher moral obligation and never giving up."

"There are so many obstacles in advancing the understanding of mental health and many barriers locally and internationally. . . so many selfish interests, that sometimes the work can get quite discouraging," he admits. "At such times, it's my belief in what I'm doing that sustains my energy. Without that belief, I would have burnt out a long time ago."

His spiritual faith sustains him, too, as does his family. "They're also very good in that they don't put up with any nonsense with me," he says. "If they think I'm doing something wrong, they'll let me know."

Dr. Kutcher balances his demanding job with tasks such as splitting wood or yard work at his house just outside of Herring Cove. He also owns a rustic cottage that doesn't have electricity or a telephone. He recognizes that he's been blessed. "I'm extremely fortunate to have a job in which I am very well paid," he says.

"In so many other places I've worked in the world, I see other people doing the same kind of work as I, who aren't remunerated in the same manner at all.

"I know that many physicians in Canada would appreciate the challenges and opportunities that global health work brings to them," he adds. "It's not easy work and it's not comfortable, but it's highly rewarding."

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