Writing a memoir about mental illness, especially if one is a professor of psychiatry, has consequences. Responses to one such, An Unquiet Mind, were many and complicated. From colleagues, they ranged from compassion and encouragement to criticism and silence. Public response ranged from support and appreciation to religious and political tirades. It is not surprising that students and young doctors with mental illness continue to express deep concern about the consequences of seeking treatment or talking openly with their clinical supervisors, mentors, or professors. By sharing her own battles with bipolar disorder, Dr. Jamison will explore the benefits and consquences of publically disclosing mental illness.
