ZYGO: The Stigmatization of Mental Health with Dr. Daniel Nation

ZYGO: The Stigmatization of Mental Health with Dr. Daniel Nation

“I’m not a psychopath, I'm a highly functioning sociopath,” says Sherlock Holmes in the hit BBC show of the same name. More and more often, popular TV and movies are exploring and depicting mental illness. While some seem well intended, hoping to normalize the experience of living with a mental illness, many exploit those whose symptoms aren't well managed. Shows like “My Strange Addiction,” and “Hoarders,” use serious mental and emotional issues as the driving plot, and further galvanize the stigma surrounding these conditions. The stigmatization of mental illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and personality disorders is a major challenge in the field of mental health, as people are often too ashamed or scared to seek treatment. The stigmatization seen on the screen in an extension of our cultural attitudes towards mental health, one that seeks to "other" people with mental health issues. In this ZYGO round table discussion with Dr. Daniel Nation, professor of abnormal psychology, we will explore the importance of representation and normalization: In what ways do inaccurate and negative portrayals of mental illnesses contribute to these stigmas? How can we talk about mental illnesses in a way that combats stigma? How may the categorization of mental health diagnoses contribute to stigma itself?

Drinks and refreshments provided.