Health

Another Literary Win Against the Stigma of Mental Illness

Published

6 years ago

December 15, 2018

As a boy in Columbus, Ohio, Stephen Hinshaw didn’t understand why his father, Virgil Hinshaw Jr., an eminent philosophy professor whose mentors included Bertrand Russell and Albert Einstein, kept disappearing.
It wasn’t until Hinshaw’s late teens that he discovered his father suffered from a severe mental illness – long misdiagnosed as schizophrenia – that forced him into involuntary hospitalizations. As per the orders of his father’s physician, the illness and treatments had to be kept strictly secret from Hinshaw and his sister.
Inspired by his family’s ordeals to go into clinical psychology, Hinshaw eventually helped to get his father a correct diagnosis and treatment for bipolar disorder.
The confusion, shame and eventual reveal of his father’s tragic predicament – and its impact on the family – has led Hinshaw, 66, an award-winning UC Berkeley professor of psychology, to publish three books about the stigma of mental illness.
His latest, “Another Kind of Madness: A Journey through the Stigma and Hope of Mental Illness “(St. Martin’s Press, 2017), just won the American Book Fest’s 2018 award for best autobiography or memoir. The paperback edition will come out in the spring.
“It’s a deep dive into my family’s enforced silence about my father’s lifelong misdiagnosed and heavily stigmatized mental illness,” says Hinshaw. “It’s more intense than anything I’ve written before, interwoven with commentary on what stigma is and why we need to move the dial on reducing it.”

Stephen Hinshaw (right) with father Virgil Hinshaw Jr.

More than 2,000 books were submitted this year to the annual contest of the American Book Fest, an online publication promoting books from mainstream and independent publishers. Hinshaw’s book, also a finalist in the psychology/mental health category, has resonated with a wide range of readers.
“Another Kind of Madness” is one of the best books I’ve read about the cost of stigma and silence in a family touched by mental illness,” wrote actress Glenn Close in a review. “It’s a masterpiece.”
An expert on developmental psychopathology, including ADHD, Hinshaw has published more than 350 research papers and chapters, and several widely acclaimed books, including “The ADHD Explosion: Myths, Medication, Money and Today’s Push for Performance” (2014); “The Triple Bind: Saving our Teenage Girls from Today’s Pressures and Conflicting Expectations” (2009) and “The Mark of Shame: Stigma of Mental Illness and an Agenda for Change” (2006).
His 2002 book, “The Years of Silence Are Past: My Father’s Life with Bipolar Disorder,” was a biography of his father, a graduate of Stanford, the University of Iowa and Princeton who taught at Ohio State University for nearly 50 years.
Unbeknownst to his son and daughter throughout their childhood, the elder Hinshaw was undergoing frequent hospitalizations and primitive forms of shock therapy. As is common among families where secrets leave children confused and ashamed, Hinshaw often believed he was to blame for his father’s disappearances.
Unlike his first chronicle of Virgil Hinshaw Jr.’s life, “Another Kind of Madness” “is far more focused on what it was like to grow up in a home where my father’s mysterious and lengthy absences were never allowed to be discussed — and the impact on children when family secrets are front and center,” Hinshaw says.
The book also graphically details his fear that “I would be next to join the family legacy of psychosis and brutal hospitalization,” Hinshaw says. “It took years before I opened up enough to correctly diagnose him with bipolar disorder and talk with others about our family’s secrets.”
As for the main takeaway of “Another Kind of Madness,” “Despite our greater knowledge of mental illness in modern times, pervasive shame and stigma are still the core factors preventing treatment, better research and a more inclusive society,” Hinshaw says. “If we don’t discuss mental disorder openly, the world economy falters and everyone loses.”

Yasmin Anwar, Media Relations

Posts by Yasmin Anwar, Media Relations

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Activism

LIVE! — TOWN HALL ON RACISM AND ITS IMPACT — THURS. 11.14.24 5PM PST

Join us for a LIVE Virtual Town Hall on the Impact of Racism hosted by Post News Group Journalist Carla Thomas and featuring Oakland, CA NAACP President Cynthia Adams & other Special Guests.
Thursday, November 14, 2024, 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. PST

Published

1 week ago

November 12, 2024

Oakland Post

Discussion Topics:
• Since the pandemic, what battles have the NAACP fought nationally, and how have they impacted us locally?
• What trends are you seeing concerning Racism? Is it more covert or overt?
• What are the top 5 issues resulting from racism in our communities?
• How do racial and other types of discrimination impact local communities?
• What are the most effective ways our community can combat racism and hate?

Your questions and comments will be shared LIVE with the moderators and viewers during the broadcast.

STREAMED LIVE!
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NAACP California-Hawaii State Convention Highlights Black Voter Engagement, and More

A Friday panel featuring NAACP Chairman Leon W. Russell and Regina Wilson, Executive Director of California Black Media, examined Project 2025, an initiative perceived as a potential threat to civil rights, healthcare access, and environmental protection. This session emphasized Project 2025’s projected impact on Black communities, noting that policies within the initiative could diminish gains in civil and environmental rights over decades. Russell and Wilson highlighted the need for vigilant monitoring and community mobilization to address these challenges.

Published

2 weeks ago

November 4, 2024

Oakland Post

NAACP State Conference President Rick Callender (right) engages in a discussion on voter engagement and community advocacy with NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson during the 37th NAACP California-Hawaii State Convention in Los Angeles. Photo by Rich Woods.

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

The 37th NAACP California-Hawaii State Convention concluded on Sunday, Oct 27, following four days of discussions and workshops at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott. Bringing together civil rights leaders, policymakers, and advocates from California and Hawaii, the convention operated under the theme “All In.” The participants discussed critical issues impacting Black communities, including criminal justice reform, health equity, economic empowerment, education, environmental justice, and voting rights.

On Saturday, the President’s Fireside Chat brought together NAACP President Derrick Johnson and CA/HI State Conference President Rick Callender, who discussed the urgency of voter engagement and community advocacy.

Guest speakers included Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA-43), who spoke at the Women in NAACP (WIN) Labor Luncheon about the intersection of labor rights and civil rights. California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond delivered remarks at the Leadership Dinner on education equity, focusing on policies to ensure all students have access to high-quality education.

Honors were given to longtime social justice advocate and former Assemblymember Mike Davis for his work in community activism. At the same time, actor and activist Danny Glover and the Rev. Dr. Amos C. Brown received the 2024 Legacy Hall of Fame Awards, recognizing their lifelong commitments to advancing civil rights.

The convention also offered practical workshops, including “What’s On Your Ballot?,” where coalition leaders provided analyses of California propositions, explaining their potential impacts on community rights and resources. The Voter Turnout Workshop provided background and encouraged participants to promote voter turnout through community-centered outreach strategies.

Sunday’s events closed with a Prayer and Memorial Breakfast honoring the contributions of past and current civil rights leaders.

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Atty Gen Bonta: U.S. Law Mandating Emergency Care to All Patients Faces Threats

The attorney general highlighted that EMTALA is vital for ensuring that no individual is turned away from emergency services based on financial status or insurance coverage. Bonta stated that the law has been a cornerstone of emergency healthcare for decades, providing peace of mind to millions of Americans who might otherwise hesitate to seek urgent medical attention due to cost concerns.

Published

3 weeks ago

November 3, 2024

Oakland Post

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By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

California Attorney General Rob Bonta emphasized the critical need to protect the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), mandating that hospitals provide emergency care to all patients regardless of their ability to pay.

In a recent statement, Bonta highlighted the potential threats to this essential legislation amid ongoing discussions about healthcare accessibility in the U.S.

“EMTALA ensures that no one is denied access to emergency medical care, including abortion care, and this federal law is more imperative than ever following the overturn of Roe v. Wade,” said Bonta.

This decision to support the federal government’s case comes at a time when many healthcare providers are facing pressure from rising costs and legislative changes that could undermine existing protections. Bonta called on lawmakers to reinforce EMTALA’s provisions and to combat any efforts aimed at weakening the act, asserting that equitable access to emergency care is a fundamental right.

He urged state and federal governments to ensure that all Americans, particularly marginalized communities, have the necessary access to emergency services without fear of financial repercussions. The brief indicates the coalition’s commitment to healthcare equity, emphasizing that maintaining strong protections under EMTALA is crucial for safeguarding public health.

As discussions around healthcare policy continue, Bonta remains steadfast in promoting initiatives that protect emergency care access, asserting that everyone deserves timely and appropriate medical treatment in emergencies. His efforts align with ongoing legal and advocacy battles to preserve the rights established by EMTALA in the face of evolving healthcare challenges.