The Voices Project Dialogue Series: Recent Episodes
Rohit Sahgal
As parts of the world begin to turn the corner on the covid-19 pandemic and are now looking to contend with emerging AI technologies, pressing questions will emerge. Join our Voices Project Dialogue as we take a look at multilateral perspectives that stem from Asia but help contextualise the World.
I'll examine the vulnerabilities and opportunities that this next normal in societal wellbeing and health will force us to contend with. Over the course of the episodes critical experts, policymakers, healthcare providers, academics and community thought leaders will come together alongwith representatives from industry, associations, charities and the finance sector to examine issues such as: Financial rollout hurdles, community-driven policies, public/private barriers to engagement, inequity & accessibility, the challenge of living with digital inequity, roles of new technologies, life with co-morbidities, the post-covid cancer surge, financial exclusion, digital innovation for development sector prioritisation, climate-induced respiratory illnesses, mental health and much more.
In this episode, we delve into the cutting-edge intersection of artificial intelligence, prisoner behaviors, and the complex issue of recidivism. Join us as we unravel the transformative potential of AI technologies in reshaping the trajectories of ex-offenders seeking reintegration into society, the cutting-edge intersection of artificial intelligence, prisoner behaviors, and the complex issue of recidivism. We also unravel the transformative potential of AI technologies in reshaping the trajectories of ex-offenders seeking reintegration into society.
Our guest is Craig DeLarge founder of DMHP in Philadelphia, who's global career has been focused on improving health outcomes. He earned his MBA from the University of Westminster, London, U.K. and his Master's of Public Health in 2022 at King's College, London, with a specialisation in global mental health, and an emphasis on population health, digital literacy and the impact of emerging digital divides.
For those looking to dive deeper, here are the resources mentioned in the conversation:
https://calnewport.com/on-digital-minimalism/
https://www.digitalmentalhealthproject.com/digital-mental-health-i-am-reading-digitally-well-structures-society-in-the-tech-age-by-c7e4fba7d432
•https://www.digitalmentalhealthproject.com/digital-mental-health-i-am-reading-digital-detangler-a-guide-to-mindful-technology-use-by-pete-6035b8cbf109
https://www.propublica.org/article/how-we-analyzed-the-compas-recidivism-algorithm/
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320355491_The_effect_of_digital_technology_on_prisoner_behavior_and_reoffending_a_natural_stepped-wedge_design
https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/tapping-artificial-intelligence
We are thrilled to announce the release of Season 5 of The Voices Project Dialogue Series. Our latest season delves into critical issues surrounding prison reform, recidivism reduction, and innovative approaches to ex-offender rehabilitation.
Our inaugural episode, titled 'The Path Back,' features a compelling conversation with Holly Deane-Johns. Holly, the author of 'Holly’s Hell,' shares her profound insights into her journey through nearly 8 years in a Thai prison for drug offenses, followed by additional time in the Australian prison system. Her life's mission revolves around advocating for inspiration and change within the prison community and an inspiration. We invite you to listen to this new episode and the ones to follow and engage with the valuable discussions around transforming methodologies and integrating new technologies to facilitate the reintegration of ex-offenders into productive societies.
In this episode, we are discussing patient engagement – or rather, the worrying lack thereof – in Asian societies with regard to diagnostic, preventive, and routine healthcare and how that risks undermining health promotion efforts and rendering expansions in access to healthcare ineffective at improving health outcomes, particularly for vulnerable populations.
With us, we have Dr Ratna Devi, the Chief Executive Officer of Dakshama Health, a non-profit organisation based in India which aims to empower patients and caregivers with the right knowledge, tools and forums to seek and access healthcare options that suit their needs and through their voices bring about a positive change in the healthcare environment.
Perhaps because mental illness is a stigmatised ailment, its not always easy to ‘reach the unreachable' by way of mental health support. On a societal level, does this general lack of awareness, urgency and public resources result in lasting negative impacts on the general public perception of mental health?
How do we widen the remit of community-based programmes that make mental health more inclusive? How can financing, technology and collaboration all come together? Hear Girija Pande express his personal views on this complex ecosystem. Girija is Chairman, Apex Avalon Consulting; Chair, Institute of Mental Health Committee; Board Member, National Healthcare Group, Singapore.
The WHO's 2021 Mental Health Framework states that depending on the local context, certain individuals and groups in society may be placed at a significantly higher risk of experiencing mental trauma at very young ages. A blend of cultural behaviours and other stress facotrs can lead to debilitating trauma for children.
This is Paulo's story and one person's will to change and the lessons that can be imparted.
Between 76% and 85% of people with severe mental disorders receive no treatment for their disorder in low-income and middle-income countries; the corresponding range for high-income countries is also high.
Globally, annual spending on mental health is less than US$ 2 per person and less than US25 cents per person in low-income countries. 67% of these financial resources allocated to stand-alone mental hospitals, despite their association with poor health outcomes and human rights violations.
Where can we begin to change the paradigm? Hear Craig A. DeLarge reflect on his views as a global digital and mental health advocate & educator.
According to WHO’s 2021 global report, one in seven 10-19 year-olds experiences a mental disorder, accounting for 13% of the global burden of disease in this age group. Depression, anxiety and behavioural disorders are among the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15-19 year-olds.
Understanding Asia's holistic attitude to mental health from the lens of inner awareness and the need for introspection. Hear Hun Ming Kwang, spiritual teacher, master healer and mental health advocate reflect on key aspects of emotional, spiritual literacy as part of holistic mental health policy framing.
Health systems in large parts of SEA and the region have not yet adequately responded to the burden of mental disorders according to WHO. As a consequence, the gap between the need for treatment and its provision is large and only widening as the result of the last 2 years of pandemic isolation and disruption.
What is driving this and are we allowing too many young sufferers fall through the cracks? Hear Geetika Malhotra, a global practicing psychotherapist and counsellor reflect on the key challenges and priorities facing Asian mental health in adolescents and the youth.
Welcome listeners to our fifth episode of our second season, that will delve into the complex realm of global clinical trials and the access Asian patients actually have had in novel/innovative treatments – quite probably one of the most inequitable of standards in healthcare and one that hasn’t been understood deeply enough. We’re a group of like-minded health editors, researchers and writers who’ve spent a career in trying to track the evolution of healthcare in parts of the developing world, particularly Asia-Pacific. So essentially this is a neutral, independent non-profit platform that aims to produce deep insights and knowledge on public health issues in Asia Pacific, rooted in local circumstances, experiences, and divergences.
We'll be joined today by two stalwarts of the oncology and clinical trial world, one who has represented the path that clinical research and trials have had to traverse in Asia and the other who is now trailblazing the future of technology-enabled patient outcomes.
Jean Paul Deslypere, Founder & CEO of Aesculape, a Singapore-based Clinical Research Organisation, with offices in 9 countries and more than 30 professionals worldwide and applies therapeutic experience and expertise to help customers and partners bend the cost and time curve of drug development.
Dr Huren Sivaraj, Co-Founder and CEO Oncoshot, a really unique startup that help patients, caregivers, and oncologists identify clinical trials more efficiently and effectively in today’s fast-changing landscape of cancer care. Their platform generates leads for relevant clinical trials in minutes, whereas with the traditional approach it can take weeks.
The future of wearables a reality?
Our objective in this season’s episodes is to lay the foundations for a regional understanding of the necessary frameworks for the role of tech in life sciences. By doing so, we aim to develop region specific consensus that can be leveraged by policymakers, healthcare professionals, and actors in the private sector to better facilitate the development and rollout of much needed innovation and reform in Asia by taking a continental rather than an isolated localised approach. Ultimately developing coalitions, collaboration among policymakers and agenda-setters, that can complement and build upon existing initiatives.
As technology penetrates society, digital literacy becomes increasingly vital to protect society and promote its wellbeing. As digitalisation takes root in health, we explore what digital literacy looks like for consumerised health.
If there's one lesson the pandemic has taught us, it's that telehealth and the remote/virtual delivery of health services is now viable. What does this mean for the future of health delivery?
The roles of life sciences, pharma companies and those of data-technology companies have been orbiting around disease prevention, patient pathways, hospital delivery efficiencies and long-term care. Has the pandemic created a more conducive synergy. Where one starts and the other finishes shouldn’t really matter now, should it?
Episodes 3 and 4 built asked some difficult and pressing questions – how can new-age health policy be designed keeping in mind the evolved audience it now needs to get re-engaged with healthcare matters? And in all of this, what of the healthcare system itself; does it not need to also recalibrate and integrate.
In this episode, we’ll be asking our panel for their insights and opinions on how we can make the past become prologue. From a persepctive of behaviour science and understanding the humans behind policies.
Part 2 of a special 3-part episode series, where we break down the challenges of building multiplex policies (who, what, how?) and then deep dive into a specifically challenging category that could well deserve a fresh new look at eradication strategies in this region. Ultimately, to derive consensus amongst multilateral stakeholders who each form a piece of this giant jigsaw puzzle.
Has the Covid 19 pandemic forced health policies to reconsider its criteria for evaluation and solution-finding? With the pressures made on health systems and services, the outlook that data, efficacy, clinical evidence alone can carry the weight of today’s public health burden have been shaken to its core. Vaccinations, preventable chronic diseases, the challenges of aging and degenerative co-morbidities are all issues that will require innovative solutions that go far beyond traditional policy design mechanisms.
As part of a special 3-part episode series, we will first break down the challenges of building multiplex policies (who, what, how?) and then deep dive into a specifically challenging category, HPV – a stubborn vaccine preventable disease that could well deserve a fresh new look at eradication strategies in this region. Ultimately, to derive consensus amongst multilateral stakeholders who each form a piece of this giant jigsaw puzzle. We’ll be talking with eminent professors, voices of scientific value, insurers and regulators to all try to boil down to where a first step can be made towards lives saved, communities nurtured and brave policies designed and implemented.
I was curious to learn about real success stories that drive policy implementation. What sort of infrastructure is needed to bring stakeholders together to accelerate community value creation? The question I’m asking today to Fahim Ali, in the context of Pakistan’s efforts in community-driven value creation, is what can be done to reduce fragmentation and unlock integrated solutions for the post covid era….. and can new age civil service be the catalyst for this change?
The pandemic has helped mobilise incredible advances in innovation across the public and private sectors. Why is it then, after nearly a decade since the recommendation by WHO that HPV testing should be made the primary cervical screening method, that there is still such a lag to adopt it here in Asia?