Carol North, MD

Commentary on “From Psychosis to Psychologist” by Rose McDuff
By Carol North, MD

See Rose’s article here.

The account of Rose’s story in this issue of the Newsletter is remarkable for her victorious outcome owing largely to her courage and tenacity. Secondarily, her account is also quite remarkable for the unusual response from the administrators of her doctoral program who actively supported her and did not reject her from continuing in their program. Other people in a similar position have not been so fortunate, even being barred only for having a history of mental illness from completing their professional education.1 This blowback to the unfortunate occurrence of such affliction adds unnecessary pain to the immense suffering caused by the psychiatric illness itself.

The stigma of mental illness runs deep in our society. It permeates even where one might least expect it: in the medical and mental health professions, which should be expected to do better, but have demonstrated that even they can be among the worst offenders.2 People who recover from serious mental illness should be celebrated, not rejected based on their psychiatric history. Such barriers to reconstitution of their lives can not only threaten their hard-won victory over the illness but may also prevent them from realizing potentially far-reaching and well-deserved psychosocial gains after their recovery.

Fortunately for Rose, the pioneering experience of Elyn Saks, a high-profile law professor who flourished despite her own history of serious mental illness, was directly credited by the compassionate dean of Rose’s university as the impetus for promoting, rather than blocking, her efforts to complete her degree. There have been others, including Kay Jamison, a nationally acclaimed psychologist and author who excelled despite serious mental illness. These brave souls risked their careers and their lives to reveal their stories that may benefit others who would face similar circumstances in the future. Apparently, it has worked. Rose’s story provides evidence that we may be making progress on this front.

This is why it is so important to continue to highlight the accounts of remarkable people who have triumphed in spite of mental illness. Their positive outcomes can pave the way for the future success of others who will follow. We applaud people like Rose for the courage they have demonstrated in going public with their difficult and painful, yet victorious stories. However, we cannot rest: there is still a long way to go before the stigma of mental illness can once and for all be vanquished.

References

  1. North CS, Welcome, Silence: My Triumph Over Schizophrenia, New York: Simon & Schuster 1987 and Avon Books 1989, and Lima, OH: Academic Renewal Press 2002.
  2. Jones JTR, North CS, Vogel-Scibilia S, Myers MF, Owen RR, Medical licensure questions about mental illness and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act after the Louisiana Supreme Court Settlement Agreement, Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law 2018; 46(4):458-471 (doi: 10.29158/JAAPL.003789-18).