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Art and madness, a book against the stigma of mental illness

The importance of the painter Vincent van Gogh in reducing the stigma faced by people with mental illness; the existential void that singer Janis Joplin lived through and the delusional disorder of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, is part of what can be found in the book Art and madness, in which Yolanda Pica gathers 52 texts that she originally published in her column “Clearly”, in The reason.

In the compendium edited by the Mexican Psychiatric Association, Yolanda Pica addresses the relationship between art and mental illnesses, as well as the importance of creativity to address these types of illnesses.

The above, in order to erase prejudices or that those who face a disorder feel identified and know that anyone can be in such a situation, because, for example, even prominent figures like Winston Churchill have suffered from depression.

“Many patients are not treated because they are afraid to accept it publicly and because their families often do not support them, because they consider that the fact that they are depressed is a sign of weakness. We must start from the idea that in all families there is some type of mental illness, since at least 20 percent of the population has had some form of depression, ”said the psychiatrist.

There are some texts that are expanded, because suddenly I wanted to put a little more; in fact, there are characters that I have presented in congresses or in some other events. What stands out is that there is the club of 27, who are seven until now. I chose the most pleasant columns

Yolanda Pica. Author of the book

In his texts, Pica tells some aspects of the lives of creators, politicians, athletes and scientists to delve into mental illnesses.

“Of the columns that were most important, I could highlight that of Leonora Carrington, due to the fortune we had to migrate to Mexico; that of Lucy Maud Montgomery, because thanks to her the subject of fear of the stigma of mental illness has become very open to understand that anyone can have some type of illness; and then, the general population is more accessible to be served, “he said.

Pica highlighted the article dealing with the case of actress Carrie Fisher, who suffered from bipolar disorder and underwent electrocompulsive therapy. “That has helped to break the stigma against it, which remains one of the best treatments for severe depression and has unfortunately been used in a negative way in the cinema, confusing patients and the general public, as if it were something negative when in reality it is very necessary for many and to save lives, “explained the specialist.

In the book Art and madness, which will be available at the Mexican Psychiatric Association and Gandhi bookstores, starting on December 15, also addresses cases of creators who have managed to save themselves thanks to their art, such as the Japanese Yayoi Kusama.

“Through art, various areas of the brain are activated that are related to a system of neurotransmitters dopamine, a substance that is responsible for cognition, learning and pleasant sensations.

“When people succeed in producing art, their dopamine concentration increases and makes them feel emotionally better, even if you are not an artist and you start creating, it helps you control your moods in the isolation derived from the pandemic,” he explained.

There is another group of artists who, through the expression of their art, have overcome their illnesses; stimulating creativity by doing activities of this type improves moods, because the whole brain is activated

Yolanda Pica. Author of the book

On current figures he also includes in his book the late soccer player Diego Armando Maradona and the singer Eminem. Of the latter, he pointed out: “It is an example of the vicissitudes that exist in the relationship between mother and son and how he has managed, through his fatherhood, to repair the failures he experienced in his own upbringing.”

He highlighted the experience of the creator Martín Ramírez, who “within a psychiatric hospital developed his pictorial art in an impressive way; At present he is one of the most important and unknown Mexican painters; he has paintings in the Metropolitan Museum and they are valued at more than a million dollars ”.

The expert Yolanda Pica presented Art and madness, last Monday night, virtually, accompanied by Bernardo Ng, president of the Mexican Psychiatric Association; Rafael Medina, editor of the book; Jesús del Bosque, former president of the institution, and Adrian Castillo, editorial general director of The reason.

Art and madness

  • Author: Yolanda Pica
  • Editorial: Mexican Psychiatric Association
  • Year: 2020

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