CERC Health Equity and Community Wellbeing Speaker Series: Transforming my Madness into International Mad movement activism: A personal to political manic-depressive journey

Public Lecture hosted by the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Health Equity and Community Wellbeing.

Please join us for the virtual public lecture “Transforming my Madness into International Mad movement activism: A personal to political manic-depressive journey” by Matthew Jackman and Dr. Jennifer Poole hosted by Dr. Karen Soldatic, Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Health Equity and Community Wellbeing. This event is free and open to the public.

Transforming my Madness into International Mad movement activism: A personal to political manic-depressive journey

Abstract: Matthew Jackman’s journey with madness has been both a personal and spiritual revelation, deeply influencing their contributions to the international Mad movement. Growing up in a family shaped by intergenerational trauma, systemic inequities, and profound loss—including their mother’s suicide—their early life was marked by resilience and a deep connection to their lived experience. During a manic episode, Jackman came out as non-binary, a moment they honour as a spiritual act of embracing their mother’s embodied spirit and their lifelong commitment to activism.

For Mathew, madness is not an affliction but a gift— a gift that requires harnessing and balance. This gift provides an insight into humanity, spirituality, and the structural injustices underpinning mental health systems. This belief has guided their advocacy within the consumer, psychiatric and trauma survivor, ex-patient and inmate, and Mad (c/s/x/m) movement, where they work to amplify the voices of those marginalized by conventional psychiatric frameworks. Their perspective integrates the spiritual and political dimensions of madness, recognizing it as a powerful force for transformation and connection.

Their work with international organizations, including the Global Mental Health Peer Network, the Asia Pacific Social and Economic Commission in Disability Inclusion and the World Health Organization in Non-Communicable Disease (Mental Health) Policy Setting and Implementation, reflects their commitment to lived experience leadership. By contributing to global policies that emphasize culturally sensitive, holistic, and inclusive care, they highlight the potential for madness to drive systemic reform and collective healing.

Their coming out and activism underscore the deeply intertwined personal and political dimensions of their work. They continue to advocate for a paradigm shift that values the spiritual, socio-political and cultural dimensions of mental health, inspiring a world where madness is celebrated as a source of wisdom and resilience. Their story serves as a testament to the power of lived experience in fostering equitable, compassionate, and transformative mental health systems globally.

Accessibility

Live captioning will be provided on Zoom.

For questions and access inquiries please contact Tarndeep Pannu by January 31, 2025.