Kitt O’Malley

Category: Stigma

  • To Conform or Not to Conform

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      Throwback Thursday, originally posted November 6, 2013:

  • Brain is a Brain

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    When I was visiting with my father to celebrate Thanksgiving, he asked me why what he suffers – dementia, a memory disorder, a neurological disorder – is any different than what I have – bipolar disorder, a mental illness, a psychiatric disorder? Why these distinctions? Why is stigma attached to one and not another? Why do so many…

  • Being a Parent with a mental illness

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    I reblogged this excellent post on being a parent with mental illness, originally posted on YOUTH OF A NATION:BENT NOT BROKE by DarcSunshine. http://youthofanation.com/2014/11/22/being-a-parent-with-a-mental-illness/

  • In Our Own Voice Interview

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    This week I’m feeling much better than I was on Friday and over the weekend. Spending so many days in bed or slouched on the couch did a number on my lower back and hip flexors. I was in extreme pain this morning. Walking around while doing errands seems to have loosened them up again. This…

  • When prejudice isn’t real

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    We must be careful not to assume the worst, not to project our own fears and insecurities onto others. Read this thoughtful blog post from Laura Droege about her experience miscontruing another mother’s demeanor and behavior, assuming the other mother was prejudiced against Laura due to Laura’s openness about her bipolar diagnosis: “Sometimes, it really…

  • Mental Health #Inequality #BlogAction14

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    Structural factors such as poverty, inequality, homelessness, and discrimination contribute to risk for mental disability and impact negatively on the course and outcome of such disabilities. A human rights approach to mental disability means affirming the full personhood of those with mental disabilities by respecting their inherent dignity, their individual autonomy and independence, and their…

  • Submit to STIGMAMA

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    Walker Karraa, PhD has done an incredible job growing STIGMAMA | Motherhood. Mental Illness. Out Loud. at STIGMAMA.COM. STIGMAMA is currently calling for submissions of essays, poetry, personal stories, fiction, professional perspectives, photo essays, and art about STEREOTYPES. Submit to info@stigmama.com. Help STIGMAMA widen its reach. If you are a woman of color, mature mother, grandmother or great-grandmother, young woman, childless (whether or…

  • HeForShe 2014

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    UN Women Global Goodwill Ambassador, Emma Watson, delivered this powerful speech (transcript here) on September 20, 2014 for the HeForShe Special Event at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Take action, visit: HeForShe.org Emma Watson pointed out that sexism not only hurts women, it hurts men. Men often do not reach out for mental health services…

  • NAMI Week Nine

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    Wednesday afternoon I attended the ninth week of NAMI Peer-to-Peer Recovery Education Program ©. The class covered the following topics: Guest Speaker – Family Member – Steve Pitman Four Good Things about Hospitalization: To avoid the upheaval of a hospital stay, with the help of your support system,youcanrecreatethefour good things about hospitalization at home when you need it.…

  • NAMI Family Member Guest Speaker

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    Yesterday afternoon at NAMI Peer-to-Peer Recovery Education Program, we had the pleasure of listening to Steve Pitman, Board of Directors President of NAMI Orange County, who shared his experience as a family member of those living with mental illness. Here is a video of Steve Pitman giving a similar speech at The Gathering on Mental Health and the Church at…