Between Convictions and Psychiatric Labels: Beliefs, Polarisation and Mental Health in a Changing Europe

Background

Strongly held beliefs and clinical presentations can look surprisingly similar: resistant to change even in the face of evidence, and bound up with fear, identity, or a need to make sense of a confusing world.​ When people argue that rising immigration is part of a deliberate plan by political elites to reshape society and replace existing populations, it can be difficult to make sense of this belief. Those who hold this view may feel they are simply seeing patterns that others miss, and their certainty can grow stronger when they find others who confirm it. However, at a time of polarisation, misinformation, and rapid social change, beliefs do not emerge in a vacuum.

In this 40-minute webinar, Professor Richard Bentall and Dr Almudena Trucharte explored the issue through an interview-style conversation. A compassionate conversation was opened about the grey area between extreme political beliefs and the kind of thinking sometimes encountered by clinicians. This webinar is linked to the IN-MIND project (Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action) and Mental Health Week 2026.

Moderator