Robert Villanueva Discusses Stigma and Recovery from Mental Illness

In July of 2009, Robert expressed his interests in stigma and mental illnesses, specifically among men who are blue collar workers, coaches and other careers where mental health is often not talked about. His goal is to encourage others to continue speaking about mental illness to reduce stigma, so that people with diagnoses may feel empowered to share their struggles. He explores the idea of what it looks like for those who are recovering from mental illness and what the goals are for reintegration to society. He explains that communities only see mental illness through noticeable symptoms and how the media portrays mental health. He ends with hoping to end the stereotypes that people might hold about what a bipolar person looks like.