Japanese psychiatrist Dr Marie Kitano participated in the Australia–Japan Youth Dialogue 2021. The screenshot was taken during one of the sessions. Source: Marie Kitano
Dr Kitano was one of the delegates who participated in the Australia-Japan Youth Dialogue (AJYD) in 2021. The biannually event started in 2017 in Melbourne, followed by the second event in Tokyo in 2019.
This year's AJYD was held in a hybrid format - mixture of online and face-to-face.
By attending the AJYD, Dr Kitano realized that, in international cooperation, every field is connected.
"I have a strong interest in mental health of refugees and immigrants. But that's not an issue only in medical field. It has to be dealt with more broadly", Dr Kitano said.
"Mental health of refugees and immigrants is also connected to economy and politics. We have to make a policy together across all fields."
Learning from Australia
Dr Kitano hopes that she can work as psychiatrist or a researcher in Australia to learn more about mental health of refugees and immigrants and trauma care, to support refugees and immigrants in Japan especially children.
Dr Kitano visited Australia as a tourist when she was 20 years old. Later she studied at the Australian National University as an international student. Dr Kitano was surprised to see many immigrants and refugees living in Australia where she thought to be a country of Caucasians.
"In Japan, mental health support for refugees and immigrants is almost none. I'd like to build a career and learn more in Australia and I hope I could use my experience and expertise back in Japan", Dr Kitano said.
In the audio, Dr Kitano shares her experience at AJYD 2021 and talks about how she got interested in mental health of refugees and immigrants.
