What is normal? | Episode 4

About this episode

The episode explores the concept of normality in mental health through discussions with various experts.

What is normal in the mental health experience? MHE Policy Manager Laura Marchetti is joined by four experts to unpack the understanding of normality and mental health.  Dr Zsófia Demjén, Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics at the UCL Centre for Applied Linguistics in London explores how language influences the way we frame and understand mental (ill) health. Professor Peter Kinderman from the University of Liverpool (UK) sheds light on how mental health and normality are approached in medical practice. Kees Dijkman, mental health ambassador from the Netherlands, turns attention to the media landscape and how it translates into the way mental health and mental health issues are portrayed. Dominique de Marné, social entrepreneur and mental health advocate from Germany, talks about her own personal experience and the misconceptions around the notion of normality.  Music by PurplePlanet.com.

People in this episode

Guests: Kees Dijkman, Dominique de Marné, Professor Peter Kinderman, Dr Zsófia Demjén

Topics covered

• normality
• mental health
• language
• medical practice
• media portrayal
• personal experience

Keywords

• mental health experience
• understanding normality
• misconceptions

Mentioned in this episode

Places: London, Netherlands, Germany

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