Becoming an Ally to Mad People: Resisting Mentalism with Mad Students

This workshop will examine unexposed sites and methods of discrimination against Mad people, psychiatric survivors, consumers, and those labeled with "mental illness" diagnoses or mental health disabilities (also called mentalism or saneism) - especially how mentalism is enacted at school. To counter stereotypical and medical model understandings of madness (e.g. "mental health awareness") pervasive in society and on post-secondary campuses, the presenters will talk about Mad people as a people. Like other equity-seeking groups, Mad people have a history, language, community, and culture that would-be allies need to acknowledge and celebrate. Through group activity, participants will be encouraged to challenge their mentalist attitudes and support local (at YorkU, in Toronto) and global expressions of the Mad Movement.