This museum exhibit will change your perspective on mental illness
Despite the fact that about 25 percent of American adults have some form of mental illness, it’s not something we talk about openly nearly enough. The CDC also reports that the same number of people in the U.S. — only 25 percent — believe that others are sympathetic and understanding about their mental illness.
Luckily, we’re making strides toward eliminating the stigma around mental illness. One way is through a new exhibit at the Museum of Science in Boston. Titled “Many Faces of Our Mental Health,” it seeks to break down such stigmas and barriers. And in doing so, it aims to show that there is no one face of mental illness; it affects people of all ages, sexes, and races.
One component of the exhibit is a photo wall featuring 99 portraits. 33 are of people who have experienced the symptoms of schizophrenia. 33 are of people who have experienced the symptoms of bipolar disorder. And the final third are of the people who love them. There are also paintings, sculptures, and videos in the exhibit. And there’s a large sculpture of a human DNA sequence too.
“Many Faces of Our Mental Health” is so important for so many reasons.
We applaud the museum for displaying an exhibit dedicated to highlighting common misconceptions about mental illness.
The temporary exhibit is open at the Museum of Science in Boston until February 11th.
But if you can’t make it to Boston, don’t worry. You can check out some of the photos from the exhibit on their website.
