Stigma matters: An African American psychology professor comes out of the mental illness closet.

Abstract

The debilitating stigma of mental illness is present in psychologists, psychology departments, and in the larger higher education environment. My reflections on my experience as an African American psychology professor living with bipolar disorder can shed light on how stigma can prevent colleagues from intervening and providing much-needed support to a colleague in crisis. I summarize the history of my struggle with mental illness and with the decision to write about it. I emphasize the importance of vigilance with respect to the fact that changes in medication can rapidly and radically impact one's mood and behavior. My insights as a prosumer can inform administrators, staff, and faculty as they develop policies and practices to assist employees with mental health concerns, which should include providing trusted colleagues with permission to contact a spouse, friend, therapist, and/or family member in the event of a change in behavior. The aim is reduced stigma, greater authenticity on the part of the person living with mental illness, and early intervention, similar to the response one would expect to a heart attack, to interrupt or prevent a prolonged episode of psychological distress. Impact StatementDue to concerns about stigma and its impact on their professional and personal lives, mental health professionals, especially those of African descent, rarely share the details of their own mental health concerns. Accounts of lived experience could enhance empathy for people with mental illness and inform the general public, the media, students, administrators, clinicians, and policy makers about the multifaceted challenges of improving mental health and reducing stigma.

Stress, anxiety, and depression in psychology graduate student trainees and licensed psychologists: A scoping review.

“…This can extend to helping our LP colleagues acknowledge and seek treatment for their mental health concerns. We also need to consider the unique needs of GSTs and LPs with intersectional identities, as they may experience additional barriers to mental health treatment rooted in marginalization and oppression (Whitten, 2022).…”

Clinicians with lived experience of mental illness: Introduction to a special section on prosumers, in honor of the late Dr. Fredrick J. Frese III.

“…Vierthaler and Elliott (2022) write as a type of duet, with alternating sections from the point of view of a psychologist who struggled with mania and psychosis, and a colleague who helped her. Having a trusted colleague not only stand by her but also reach out to others as needed is precisely what Dr. Whitten (2022) advocates for. Vierthaler and Elliot punctuate their story with important reflections on disclosure, stigma, and how mental health professionals “need to trust what we promote” (p. 3).…”

“…Three articles focused on being a prosumer in primarily educational settings. Whitten (2022) discusses her experience with bipolar disorder as an African-American professor in the field of psychology. Dr. Whitten poignantly contrasts how colleagues would react to a person having a heart attack versus an exacerbation of mental illness.…”

Prosumers’ experiences of witnessed discrimination and internalized stigma: A moderated mediation.

“…Furthermore, shame and nondisclosure surrounding lived experiences of mental illness are perpetuated by individuals being told by people who are close to them to maintain their experiences secret (Gonzales, Davidoff, Nadal, & Yanos, 2015). Some prosumers have opted to challenge stigmatizing views and attitudes by using narrative research to engage and share their own experiences or the experiences of colleagues with stigma within the field of clinical psychology (Bennett, 2012; Devendorf, 2022; Whitten, 2022).…”