WGSS-385 Mental Health, Madness, and Neuroqueerness (3)

Ideas about mental health, illness, and difference including therapy, self care, and mindfulness; autism, anxiety, and depression; ADHD, BPD, ODC, and PTSD; ASMR, medication, and substance use surround us every day. This course traces the longer histories of mental health discourses and encounters the lived experience of madness and neurodivergence. Centering the life stories and knowledge of those who have been labeled or claimed the label of mad, neuroqueer, and/or mentally ill, students critically examine how ideas about mental health and wellness are situated in systems of colonialism, white supremacy, capitalism, and patriarchy. From the Mad Pride movement to neurodiversity, they learn about alternative ways of understanding different mental states and explore visions for a society that holds space for all of us. AU Core Integrative Requirement: Diversity and Equity. Crosslist: AMST-385. Recommendation: AMST-285, HLTH-285, or WGSS-285.