Perceptions of Madness: understanding mental illness through art, literature and drama

How mental illness is portrayed in art, literature and on TV can have a positive or negative effect on how the public perceives mental ill health. Representations of people with mental health problems can range from the mad psychotic criminal to people within their daily lives dealing with depression, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.  This panel discussion explores how such presentations of mental illness can affect public understanding of mental ill health with insights from research and personal experiences.

Nathan Filer (@nathanfiler| ) is the author of The Shock of the Fall| , winner of the Costa Book of the Year (2013), the Betty Trask Prize (2014), and Popular Fiction Book of the Year at the National Book Awards (2014). It has been translated into twenty-seven languages. He worked as a mental health nurse for many years and in 2014 was named as a Nursing Times’ Nursing Leader for “influencing the way the public thinks about mental illness”. He lectures in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University.

Martin Knapp is Director of PSSRU and a Professor of Social Policy at LSE.  He is also Director of the NIHR School for Social Care Research.

The Personal Social Services Research Unit (PSSRU) is one of the leading social care research groups, not just in the UK, but internationally. The LSE branch of PSSRU sits within LSE Health and Social Care| (@LSEHSC| ) in the Department of Social Policy|  (@LSESocialPolicy| ).

This event forms part of the LSE Space for Thought Literary Festival 2015| , taking place from Monday 23 - Saturday 28 February 2015, with the theme 'Foundations'.

Suggested hashtag for this event for Twitter users: #LSElitfest

All events in the Festival are free to attend and open to all.  E-tickets will be available to book online after 10am on Tuesday 3 February via LSE E Shop.

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This event has been certified for CPD|  purposes by the CPD Certification Service| . Self-Assessment Record forms will be made available for delegates wishing to record further learning and knowledge enhancement for Continuing Personal and Professional Development (CPD) purposes. For delegates who wish to obtain a CPD Certificate of Attendance, it is the responsibility of delegates to register their details with a LSE steward at the end of the event and as of 1 September 2014 a certificate will be sent within 28 days of the date of the event attended by the CPD Certification Service| .  If a delegate fails to register their details at the event, it will not prove possible to issue a certificate. (For queries relating to CPD Certificates of attendance after a request please phone 0208 840 4383 or email info@cpduk.co.uk| ).

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