-by Urte Špeirokaité (Strategy Manager / Event Coordinator at Improper Walls)

Improper Dose, Improper Walls' very own online magazine, was initially launched as an alternative way of communication with the audience during quarantine. Not only it opened up space for artistic and curatorial expression, but it also lets us share a variety of topics that concern us personally, whether it be climate crisis, migration, identity, or mental health.

Seeing a huge need to change how mental health is being perceived in our surroundings, we have reached out to Made of Millions foundation for an article in Improper Dose. We have stumbled upon their online campaign for Mental Health Awareness month in 2020, focusing on the treatment gap. A short campaign presentation in Improper Dose has lead to spontaneous collaboration on an exhibition focused on the same topic. After launching the open call and receiving an amount of very personal, intimate submissions of the artist sharing their own or the stories of their loved ones, we were ensured of importance to speak up, share and show issues around mental health.

©Elisabeth Hinkel, Opening of NO ONE TOLD ME , 2020

Therefore we are happy to join this year's Made of Millions mental health awareness month campaign with our second collaborative exhibition - Shame Shouldn't Be A Symptom. Selected artists share personal stories of everyday struggles and sometimes lost battles with mental illnesses and, in this case, particularly the stigma surrounding them, addressing the shame as the block between an individual and professional help.

Make sure to check out Made of Millions website and social media for more personal stories and educational material around mental health.

The exhibition at Improper Walls can be visited until the 9th of June.

Meanwhile, we have asked Made of Millions to share more on shame and overall stigma surrounding mental health.

Could you please shortly introduce yourself and your work?
We're the Made of Millions Foundation, a global advocacy nonprofit on a mission to change how the world perceives mental health. Our work focuses on using art, technology and digital tools to make mental health narratives and educational information more accessible.
How do you define “shame”?
Shame is a feeling of deep unworthiness or wrongness. It tells us that some aspect of who we are is flawed and should remain hidden.
In what ways can shame change how we see ourselves and the world around us? Does it influence or interact with other, more clinical symptoms? Does it keep us quiet?
Shame works in so many ways. It's instilled in us by cultural systems that stigmatize certain thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Over time, we internalize these stigmas and allow them to influence our world view.
Say you experience taboo intrusive thoughts, but were raised believing that the things you think are indicative of your core values. When these symptoms come on, they trigger an intense shame response. In turn, we don't talk about what we're experiencing, which leads to a dangerous cycle of emotional suppression and suffering. We see this in most mental disorders or episodes of poor mental health. The list of things people feel shame for is extremely long. We want to start chipping away at why that is.
How about the overall stigma surrounding mental illnesses, could you please elaborate on it in regard to shame?
Stigma and shame are massive, complex topics. They're universal emotions, but they're also incredibly nuanced based on a person's identity markers, cultural background, and the symptoms they experience.
Speaking in broad terms, most cultures do not embrace open discussions or portrayals of mental illness or taboo symptomology. At best, these conversations are seen as uncomfortable. At worst, they're ostracized or criminalized. Anything that carries a negative connotation is something we may be judged or shunned for. We see such high rates of misdiagnosis and lacking diagnosis with mental illness because people are raised thinking they can't share what they're experiencing. This is exacerbated by a huge gap in educational resources. Not only are we told to keep our symptoms hidden, we are also denied access to information that would explain these symptoms to us. How then can someone who is scared and confused about what they're experiencing get better? They can't.
In most societies, talking about our symptoms and the shame that accompanies them is the first step towards recovery. Once we overcome the desire to stay hidden, we can start addressing the underlying causes of our suffering.
Would it be right to say that shame is a common thread among people living with mental illnesses?
Absolutely. But we wish it weren't that way. The goal of our campaign is to shed light on shame as a culturally induced symptom that keeps people from living fuller, healthier lives. If shame was eradicated, how many of us would get help sooner? How much closer could we feel to others? What does the world look like when people are encouraged to ask for help before they reach rock bottom?
Is there anything that can be done about shame becoming another symptom?
There are so many things to be done. In our personal lives, we can embrace vulnerability and share our experiences. We can advocate for our needs and promote therapy. We can speak up for others when we see or hear shame being perpetuated. We can join safe spaces and peer support communities dedicated to having these conversations.
Systemically, we can advocate for reforms, such as increased access to social services or workplace accommodations. We can demand for more accurate representations of our conditions in the media. We can help fundraise for or scale organizations doing this work.
That's the good news here. Shame is challenging, but we have the power to create a society without it. Collaborations like this exhibition are a great example of progress.

INTERVIEW WITH MADE OF MILLIONS