1.6 My Mental Health Story : @Schizophrenic.NYC

Summary

In this conversation, Dr. Manan Thakrar interviews Michelle Hammer, the founder of Schizophrenic NYC, about her mental health journey and the inspiration behind her clothing line. Michelle shares her experiences with schizophrenia, including the onset of symptoms in ninth grade and her struggles with self-esteem and relationships. She also discusses her childhood in Westchester and her decision to start her own business. The conversation provides insights into the challenges faced by individuals with mental health conditions and the importance of destigmatizing mental illness. In this conversation, Michell Hammer discusses her experiences with mental health and the challenges she faced. She talks about finding comfort in close friends and the reluctance to seek help. Michell shares how she eventually accepted help in college and the role that medications played in her journey. She also highlights the challenges in the US mental health system, including limited access to therapy and expensive medications.

Michell discusses her experiences in psych wards and the stigma she faced. Finally, she shares her resilience and the various mental health initiatives she is involved in, including her podcast.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:00 Introduction to Michelle and Schizophrenic NYC

14:06 Childhood and Growing Up

19:06 Finding Comfort in Close Friends

20:06 Reluctance to Seek Help

20:40 Accepting Help in College2

2:35 The Role of Medications in Mental Health

27:38 Challenges in the US Mental Health System

33:03 Experiences in Psych Wards

35:55 Stigma and Resilience

37:42 Other Mental Health Initiatives