March
28, 2003
Nothing
to Hide:
Exhibition Tells Stories of Mental Illness
Mount Holyoke College's
Ableism and Disability Awareness Planning Team (ADAPT) is working
to dispel harmful stereotypes, myths, and misconceptions about
a range of psychiatric disorders by bringing to campus Nothing
to Hide, a touring exhibition created by Family Diversity
Projects, a nonprofit organization based in Amherst, Massachusetts.
The exhibition is a collection of photographs by Gigi Kaeser and
interviews conducted by Jean Beard and Peggy Gillespie that tell
the stories of twenty individuals and their families whose lives
are affected by mental illnesses, including schizophrenia, bipolar
disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, major depression, and
generalized anxiety. Nothing to Hide will be in Kendade
Hall's Marion Craig Potter '49 Atrium March 27–April
10, 8 am–9 pm. It is supported by the Offices of the Dean
of Students, the Dean of the College, and Communications; the
Department of Psychology; Health Services; and the Weissman Center
for Leadership.
"The stigma of mental illness is worldwide and stifling,"
says Dr. Edwin H. Cassem, chief of psychiatry at Massachusetts
General Hospital. "It prevents the sick from seeking help.
Nothing To Hide aims to eradicate prejudice and discrimination
based on mental disability. It is a project whose hour has come."
Kimberly McMahon '03,
who has been part of ADAPT since its inception three years ago,
hopes that "having an exhibition of this type on campus
will facilitate discussion about mental illness across disciplines
and give people an opportunity to learn more about these families.
This exhibition will help bring awareness and understanding of
mental illness and those who are affected by it."
ADAPT will also present a talk by some of the families featured
in the exhibition Wednesday, April 9, at 7 pm in the Kendade atrium.
"The stories of these families are very moving," says
Shannon Lenz '03, who has also been part of ADAPT since
its formation. "Having heard some of them speak at a local
book release last semester, it is hard to forget their personal
accounts."
Since its formation, ADAPT has undertaken projects to raise awareness
about accessibility on campus and hidden disabilities affecting
community members. The group's projects include a signage
campaign that called attention to the physical accessibility of
campus buildings.
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