The gift of madness

Cover of Navigating....Reader

26% of American adults suffer from a diagnosable mental illness, according to NIMH.  So either the norm is to be “mentally ill” or we should be questioning the processes of diagnoses.  Women are more likely to be diagnosed with depression than men, even when they have similar scores on measures of depression or present with the same symptoms as men.  Women are also more likely to be prescribed mood altering psychotropic drugs than are men.

With the numbers of “diagnosable” mental illnesses being so high, it isn’t any wonder activists are questioning just how much sense these diagnoses make.  Where is the line drawn between illnesses and gifts, between insanity and individuality? 

The Icarus Project is a group of activists who live with “experiences that are commonly diagnosed and labeled as psychiatric conditions.”  They envision and strive to create a culture that accepts their experiences rather than trying to drug them up to fit into “a conventional framework.” For them, their experiences are not “diseases” but rather “mad gifts needing cultivation and care.”

This grassroots network has plenty of online and print resources, as well as local support groups and campus groups across the U.S. and beyond.  These groups “support alternatives to the medical model and acknowledge the traumatic legacy of psychiatric abuse.”

I spoke with Clare Christina, 

one of the organizers/facilitators of the NYC lcarus Project, which is a local autonomous group that is supported by the national Icarus collective.  The group meets monthly for peer support and to collaborate on various artistic events and fundraisers.

EB: What services and supports are available to NYC residents who have been labeled as "mentally ill"?

CC: TIP (The Icarus Project) is a great place to start because our members have had a wide range of experiences with services in the NYC area, good and bad. One organization that we've worked with on and off is Fountain House, which began the clubhouse model, in which members (not "patients") take an active part in the organization and administration of programs including employment, housing, etc.

EB: What is the most rewarding/exciting/fulfilling aspect of your work with TIP?

CC: I've found that I'm not alone. I've met some wonderful people who are invested in creating and living in a culture of mutual aid and support, who are committed to building a safe space we can inhabit together. Seeing people step up when someone's having a difficult time and offer kind words and companionship, hearing how much people appreciate the weekly support meetings, even seeing the respect and solidarity in the room when there is conflict and it is worked through according to our meeting agreements.

EB: Does TIP do any work specifically with women?

CC: We haven't yet, although most of our facilitators are women and we encourage women's voices to be heard whenever we can. What's important to us is that we develop solidarity with all historically marginalized people. We work to make our space safe for women, transgender and queer folks, people of color, low-income people, young and old folks, and people of all spiritual beliefs.

EB: Are women, as compared to men, more overdiagnosed as "mentally ill" or disproportionately overmedicated?

CC: I've definitely read about women being disproportionately diagnosed with depression. I think it's about what experiences get pathologized. In the 1800s women were diagnosed with "hysteria." In the 1950s it was "neurosis." Now any behavior that's not useful or productive in the capitalist system is depression. Or it's PMDD, which is also treated with antidepressants. It's well known that when Eli Lilly's patent ran out on Prozac, they changed the name to Serafem in order to market it to women. They created a huge campaign around PMDD, essentially inventing a mental disorder out of PMS.

EB: How can NYers support TIP?

CC:  Be an ally. Attend our events and fundraisers.  Sign up on our events list.  Listen without judging. Don't label us or call us names; use the language we use to describe our experiences. Join our Facebook group. Donate.  If you're interested in being involved or finding out more, email nycicarus@gmail.com.