From Stigma to Oppression

It’s another Disability Justice Initiative takeover of Off-Kilter… this time, for mental health awareness month. Subscribe to Off-Kilter on iTunes

May is mental health awareness month, so the Off-Kilter team decided it was the perfect time for another Disability Justice Initiative takeover of the show. Rebecca (Vallas) is joined by Azza Altiraifi, Rebecca Cokley, and Valerie Novack for a far-ranging discussion about myths, the importance of language, the truth about burnout, how we move past stigma and fear to recognition of oppression, and much more.

Trigger warnings: suicide (no discussion of methods), eating disorders, ableist slurs in the context of language and stigma.

This week’s guests:

• Azza Altiraifi, researcher, Disability Justice Initiative (@azza_alt
• Rebecca Cokley, director, Disability Justice Initiative (@rebeccacokley)
• Valerie Novack, Portlight Fellow, Disability Justice Initiative (@MADtastically)

For more on this week’s topics:

1. The Icarus Project resources
2. National Institute of Mental Health data on prevalence of mental illness & SMI
3. American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) data on suicide
4. 5 Things Suicide Survivors Should Know
5. WHO updated definition on burnout