How Mad Studies and the Psychological Humanities are Changing Mental Health: An Interview with Narrative Psychiatrist Bradley Lewis
Mad in America: Rethinking Mental Health
Mad in America
4.8 • 201 Ratings
🗓️ 11 October 2023
⏱️ 49 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Bradley Lewis works at the intersections of medicine, psychiatry, philosophy, the psychological humanities, mad studies, and disability studies, balancing roles as both a humanities professor and a practicing psychiatrist.
Lewis earned degrees in psychiatry (MD) and Interdisciplinary Humanities (PhD) from George Washington University, and he currently holds an associate professorship at New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study. He also has affiliations with NYU’s Department of Social and Cultural Analysis, the Department of Psychiatry, and the Disability Studies Minor. Additionally, he serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Medical Humanities.
His books include Moving Beyond Prozac, DSM, and the New Psychiatry: The Birth of Postpsychiatry, Narrative Psychiatry: How Stories Shape Clinical Practice, and Depression: Integrating Science, Culture, and Humanities. He has two books forthcoming: Experiencing Epiphanies in Literature and Cinema and a co-edited Mad Studies Reader. His writing offers unique insights into the hegemonic foundations of mental health and champions the role of narrative in therapy.
His work also actively bridges the gap between academia and on-the-ground initiatives. A founding member of the Institute for the Development of Humane Arts (IDHA), Lewis champions a paradigm shift in mental health by facilitating collaboration between advocates, service users, and clinicians.
His profound appreciation for the humanities guides his exploration of mental health, often through the lens of art and literature. By analyzing the lives of figures like Vincent Van Gogh or dissecting Chekhov’s narratives, Lewis encourages us to rethink and expand our understanding of psychological experiences.
Join us as we explore the philosophical foundations, practical implications, and transformative potential of his work.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to the Madden America podcast, your source for science, psychiatry and social justice. |
| 0:12.1 | Our podcasts are made possible in part by a grant from the Thomas Job Fund. |
| 0:20.5 | Hello, this is James and welcome to the podcast. |
| 0:24.2 | And this week, Mad in America's Science News Editor, Justin Carter, will be interviewing |
| 0:28.4 | humanities professor and psychiatrist Bradley Lewis. |
| 0:32.4 | But before we get to the discussion, I wanted to let you know that in December, we will |
| 0:36.9 | be sharing a special |
| 0:37.8 | episode of the podcast in which Madden America founder, Robert Whitaker, will be answering your |
| 0:43.4 | questions. Please send in questions by email to AskMIA at maddenamerica.com. That's ASKMIA |
| 0:52.0 | at maddenamerica.com and we will pick a selection. |
| 0:56.1 | Please send us questions by November 10th and be sure to let us know if you're happy to be |
| 1:00.9 | identified or if you'd prefer to remain anonymous. |
| 1:04.5 | And now, onto the podcast. |
| 1:07.1 | Bradley Lewis works at the intersections of medicine, psychiatry, philosophy, the psychological |
| 1:13.0 | humanities, and disability studies, balancing roles as both a practicing psychiatrist and an academic. |
| 1:20.2 | Lewis earned degrees in psychiatry, an MD, and a PhD in the humanities from George Washington |
| 1:25.6 | University, and he currently holds an associate |
| 1:28.1 | professorship at NYU's Gallatin School of Individualized Study. He also has affiliations with NYU's |
| 1:34.8 | Department of Social and Cultural Analysis, the Department of Psychiatry, and the Disability Studies |
| 1:39.9 | Minor. Additionally, he serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Medical Humanities. His |
| 1:45.8 | recent books are narrative psychiatry, how stories shape clinical practice, and depression, |
| 1:52.0 | integrating science, culture, and humanities. His writing offers unique insights into the ideological |
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