Sabrina Benaim suffered from depression, yet her mother had trouble understanding the scope and severity of the many symptoms that she felt. Benaim came up…
“I just thought I was so different from everyone else that I wanted my vagina to be changed,” said 21-year-old, Rosie, during her interview for…
Brigid Davidson wrote her poem “Reading Is” at age 11 for a national poetry competition. Davidson’s poem describes her difficulty with reading, caused by her…
“Depression: A Life Alone” is a short film by Luke McAdie and his colleagues explaining the importance of speaking about depression and mental illness at…
William Korelek was a Canadian artist who suffered from mental illness. His two most famous works, “The Maze” and “Out of the Maze,” reflect his…
Auditory hallucinations are difficult to treat. People show a wide range of response to antipsychotics. And, the medications are associated with negative side effects. Psychological…
Blue October’s “Schizophrenia” describes the symptoms and challenges a person with schizophrenia faces. Most importantly, the song points out that anyone can suffer from this…
Sujith Rathnayake developed a psychotic illness after losing his family during the 2004 tsunami. He was admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Sri Lanka where…
Michael Kimber’s visual poem tells the story of his battle with anxiety. Diagnosed at 25, Kimber explains how counseling and the support from his loved…
After dropping off a colleague on September 14, 2013, Jonathan Ferrell began his journey home. That night, the North Carolina highway proved more treacherous than…
Darcy Easton was 11 years old when he drew “The Scream: My Life with ADHD” for his school’s art competition. He believed it explained his…
Some people find the sound of nails on a chalkboard or the rumbling of a snoring spouse irritating, but what if the sound of someone…
Katje Kaase’s poem “Autistic Wonder” describes the unique worldview of a person with autism. The author’s imagery helps the audience develop a picture of how…
The release of a sex offender back into a community can be a deeply unnerving experience. Many of us are fearful for our comfort and…
Neil Hilborn struggled with OCD for years. Now, he has decided to speak out about the disorder through poetry. He performed during the Individual Finals…
This poem by Kelly Cherry was written about her father, who was a professional musician that succumbed to Alzheimer’s Disease. The poem guides the reader…
The song ‘Brain Damage’ was partially inspired by Pink Floyd band member, Syd Barrett, who endured a mental breakdown. The song speaks about losing one’s…
“I will take my life today around noon. It is time. Dementia is taking its toll and I have nearly lost myself.” Gillian Bennett chose the…
A professor at York University specializing in trauma and attachment, Robert T. Muller recently gave a lecture at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health….
“I Am” was written by John Clare in 1844 while he was at the Northampton General Lunatic Asylum. Clare suffered from numerous psychological conditions, which…
