CAMHRA (SOAS, University of London) invites book manuscripts that speak to the theme of Anthropological Illuminations in the Study of Mental Health and Illness.
https://camhra.soas.ac.uk/news/annual-book-prize-call-for-manuscripts
CAMHRA (SOAS, University of London) invites book manuscripts that speak to the theme of Anthropological Illuminations in the Study of Mental Health and Illness. We are particularly interested in ethnographic work that engages productively with mental health research and practice, potentially, but not only defined in biomedical terms.
Rather than generalized critiques of institutions or oppositions to the idea of quantification per se, we seek manuscripts in which ethnographic research illuminates specific puzzles or problems regarding mental health and illness that could be of interest to other disciplines, but which are better understood and investigated through anthropological methods. Our focus on methods aims to highlight forms of rigor and specificity in anthropological methods, and its unique capacities to illuminate forms of experience, in conversation with and at the limits of neighbouring disciplines.
The selected author will be invited for an in-person book workshop at SOAS (London) in March 2026, hosted by CAMHRA’s faculty and Professorial Fellows. Following the workshop, the author will work with a manuscript development editor, receive assistance in connecting with editors at major presses (if needed), and be hosted for a post-publication virtual book launch in the CAMHRA/Department of Anthropology and Sociology seminar series. The book prize covers the cost of travel and accommodation in London associated with the in-person workshop.
We welcome submissions from scholars in any part of the world, at any stage of their career trajectory, including recent PhDs, junior faculty, and senior scholars. The manuscript should be prior to the review stage. Please send a sample chapter and a brief book proposal (2-4 pages, including a table of contents) describing your engagement with the above theme to camhra@soas.ac.uk by January 15th 2026.
The book prize recipient will be announced on February 1st 2026.
About the CAMHRA Book Competition
The CAMHRA book competition aims to highlight and foster original thought at the intersection of anthropology and mental health research and practice. Each year, the CAMHRA annual lecturer will set the conceptual theme for the book competition. This year’s theme is set by our inaugural CAMHRA lecturer, Bhrigupati Singh (CAMHRA, SOAS University of London) building on his 2025 lecture, “What can and cannot be quantified: Thoughts for a new alliance of anthropology and mental health”.
What: a book prize
Theme: Anthropological Illuminations in the Study of Mental Health and Illness
Deadline: 15.01.2026
What to submit: A sample chapter and a brief book proposal (2–4 pages, including table of contents)
Send to: camhra@soas.ac.uk
Prize includes:
- In-person book workshop at SOAS (London) in March 2026
- Editorial support and connections with major presses
- Post-publication virtual book launch in the CAMHRA seminar series
- Travel and accommodation for the workshop covered
The prize is open to scholars worldwide, at any career stage.