Keynotes

Mental Health Stigma

Writing in The New York Times, Erica notes that she’s been fired more times than she cares to admit and has even more resignation letters to her name. With only 8 per cent of people with schizophrenia in work (including volunteer positions) Erica knows well the stigma to her condition from employers and others and has plenty of colourful anecdotes of experiencing stigma and how, in an ideal world, others can remedy this.

Mental Health in the media

The first thing Erica thought when she was diagnosed with psychosis is that she was a danger to herself and other people. That’s because of the stereotypes the media portrays of people living with psychosis. Not immune to the myths and stereotypes herself, Erica today works behind the scenes as a ‘mad journalist’ to try to remedy some of the bleak stereotypes of people with severe mental illnesses portrayed in the media.

Living with a severe mental illness with CFT – a new form of therapy, which teaches people to be kind to themselves

As someone who has benefited from CFT (Compassion Focused Therapy), Erica can pass on the important and life changing techniques she learned in her therapy sessions to benefit others and help them lead happier more rewarding lives. She maintains that if someone like her, diagnosed with schizophrenia, can live a happy life, so too can others.

Life after suicide/suicide prevention

In 2009, Erica was hospitalised and diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia after trying to take her own life. She can talk about how she found the strength to dial the emergency services after her suicide attempt and how other people can help those in distress under the most testing circumstances.

The arts and mental health

Erica has a degree in Fine Art from Staffordshire University and in her spare time runs Medfed an art and Tshirt brand for people with severe mental illness. She can talk about how Medfed challenges bleak stereotypes in the media and also show how many art forms – both as viewer and creator – can be a cathartic release for all people struggling or feeling low.