mental health debate: the stigma of stigma

the following is a transcript of an email conversation with harold mayo, a mental health advocate from florida. harold is critical of talk of stigma in relationship with mental illness. this criticism arose in connection with the press release for mental health camp.  in the following you will see that in the exchange, i directed… Continue reading mental health debate: the stigma of stigma

speaker line-up for mental health camp

yay! we now have the speakers list and topics for mental health camp, the conference about the intersection between social media and mental health.  more information on the topics will trickle in by the end of june.  if you want to sign up to come to this conference, go to our eventbrite page.  there will… Continue reading speaker line-up for mental health camp

… and when and why is it ok to talk about mental health?

still thinking out loud … when and why do people get to talk about mental health? there seem to be certain circumstances that make it more acceptable or easy to talk about mental health. as i am writing this i am telling myself that i need to be careful not to sound too cranky. “the… Continue reading … and when and why is it ok to talk about mental health?

psychologists, mental illness and stigma

today please visit over at brainblogger, where i talk about research on how some psychologists view people with mental health issues, especially those with schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder.  interesting points that are being discussed in the comments are the place of diagnosis and the importance, or limits of, of objectivity.

call for speakers for mental health camp

is there something you’ve always wanted to say about mental health?  here’s your chance – the call for speakers for MentalHealthCamp 2010. we are looking for session leaders who speak from personal or professional experience with mental health or mental illness. we will have 9 slots for prearranged speakers (e.g. approved by the selection committee),… Continue reading call for speakers for mental health camp

mental health camp news

a few updates on MentalHealthCamp, the second vancouver conference on the intersection between social media and mental health, to be held on july 10. we have a motto! it is breaking our silence. setting us free. also, there will be a mental health camp in toronto – isn’t that cool?  it’s on may 28.  raul… Continue reading mental health camp news

rising up to end stigma

as you know, i am a proud member of the canadian mental health association. i am even prouder to announce that a participant advisory committee, that is, individuals who are using the services of the CMHA vancouver/burnaby branch, is hosting an event for people living with mental illness and those affected by it to talk… Continue reading rising up to end stigma

mental illness awareness week 2009

today marks the end of mental illness awareness week. here are some bloggers who wrote about it, and a poem a rant against mental illness awareness week and the desire to decrease stigma around mental illness about childhood schizophrenia, by a blogger who wants to set yo head straight this week appears to be supported… Continue reading mental illness awareness week 2009

rethinking mental health

the robert wood johnson foundation has joined forces with ashoka’s changemakers to launch “rethinking mental health: improving community wellbeing”, a competition for new ideas and practices that challenge the status quo in terms of how we think about and address mental health care needs. the foundation invites you to join this important conversation and put… Continue reading rethinking mental health

MentalHealthCamp – the power of social media

here are my opening notes to MentalHealthCamp yesterday; they followed raul’s great introduction to the workings of social media.  we decided that he would be the social media guy and i’d be the mental health gal.  (how well raul and i worked together deserves a whole post by itself). i managed to present most of… Continue reading MentalHealthCamp – the power of social media