May marks Mental Health Awareness Month, an opportunity to raise awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health support. Now, as mental health issues rise at an alarming rate, these experts offer insightful perspectives on this frequently discussed topic.
Dr. Thomas Insel
America’s Mental Health Care Crisis
Known for his research on oxytocin and vasopressin, neuroscientist and psychiatrist Dr. Thomas Insel is the national leader in mental health research, policy, and technology. Dr. Insel addresses the mental health crisis, which preceded coronavirus, but the stress of social isolation, loss of loved ones, and prolonged uncertainty has made a long-standing problem an inescapable emergency. In his informative lectures, perfect for Mental Health Month and beyond, he prescribes what must be done to avoid the psychological fallout from this pandemic.
Tiffany Jenkins
A Candid Look at Addiction and Recovery
Beloved for her complete authenticity, raw honesty, and lovable humor, social media star and recovering addict Tiffany Jenkins is the human voice of the opioid epidemic. Jenkins speaks candidly about her life as an addict—which led to 20 felony charges and six months in a Florida prison—to her path to sobriety and a new life as a wife and mother and has become an inspiration to millions. She shares an up-close portrait of the mind of an addict unraveled by narcotics to help and inspire audiences across the nation who are struggling with mental illness and addiction
Chanel Miller
Healing from Trauma
First known publicly as Emily Doe, Chanel Miller is the survivor of the Stanford University sexual assault case that exposed the harsh reality of what many victims face. In her moving conversations, Miller opens up about how the experience and the grueling, seemingly never-ending trial took a toll on her mental health. She addresses how to reclaim agency and use storytelling as a tool for healing and progress. By emphasizing the power of art, truth, and narrative control, she encourages audiences to find, harness, and uplift their voices.
Robert Kolker
Fighting the Stigma of Mental Illness
Award-winning journalist and mental health advocate Robert Kolker has stunned audiences with the incredible story of the Galvins, a mid-century American family with twelve children—six of whom were diagnosed with schizophrenia. In deeply thoughtful and empathetic talks, Kolker highlights critical scientific discoveries, the importance of destigmatizing mental illness, and the future of schizophrenia treatment and research.
Kristin Henning
Race, Adolescence, and the Traumatic Effects of Policing
Kristin Henning is a passionate advocate for reform in the juvenile and criminal legal systems. A Blume Professor of Law and Director of the Juvenile Justice Clinic and Initiative at Georgetown, she fights against the criminalization of Black adolescence. In her powerful lectures, she explores the devastating and long-term impact of racial bias and over-policing on children of color during a time when youth are experiencing record levels of depression, anxiety, and trauma.