Mental health activism and the demand for recognition

Abstract

This chapter, “Mental health activism and the demand for recognition,” overviews developments in mental health activism in the United Kingdom and the United States from the late nineteenth century to the present day. It begins by outlining the discourse of “mental hygiene, the “antipsychiatry” of the 1960s, the 1970s civil rights movements, and the consumer/service-user/survivor movements. The chapter continues with a focus on contemporary Mad Pride activism, describing the origins of the movement, the elements of the discourse, and the social and political demands that arise from it. It also discusses the problem of essentialism as it relates to social identities including Mad identity. The chapter concludes with an overview of philosophical engagement with Mad Pride and mad-positive activism.