Exploring the Intersection of the Lived Experience and Scientific Basis of Mental Illness
With a shared passion for fighting mental health stigma, two Department of Psychiatry neuroscientists decided that they wanted to do something beyond their research that could have a more immediate impact on those suffering from mental illness. Drs. Lizzie Manning and Micah Shelton, researchers from the Translational Neuroscience Program, organized an exhibit of artwork created by Pittsburgh brain researchers and people who have experienced mental illness.
Now in its second year, the annual event included artwork by the investigators and patients displayed side by side to improve the community's understanding of both the scientific basis and lived experience of mental illness. The exhibit was held at Level Up Studios as part of the Unblurred: First Fridays on Penn monthly art crawl.
Thanks to generous support from a number of research departments, including the Department of Psychiatry, artwork was sold at the event and raised over $1,385 for three local nonprofits that provide mental health services to the Pittsburgh community, namely the Persad Center, Pittsburgh Mercy’s Operation Safety Net®, and Steel Smiling.
