A one-act stage performance by actress and writer Victoria Maxwell at UBC Okanagan next Tuesday afternoon shines a spotlight on dealing with mental illness.
Since being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, anxiety and psychosis, Maxwell has become one of North America’s top speakers on the “lived” experience of mental illness and recovery. Maxwell, who has worked alongside John Travolta, Johnny Depp and David Duchovny, will present her one-woman show Crazy for Life from 2:30 to 4 p.m. in the Student Service Centre lecture theatre SSC026.
“Her presentation will assist our campus community to better understand the ‘insider’s’ experience of mental illness and recovery,” says Jess Roebuck, Coordinator of the Disability Resource Centre.
“It will raise awareness of post-secondary mental health issues, particularly depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder, help identify student mental illness earlier,” Roebuck says. “More importantly, the presentation will offer tools and hope to build recovery and reduce stigma of this, one of the very last taboos.”
Part of the Disability Resource Centre’s Disability Issues Speaker and Film Series, the show is being presented primarily for students, faculty and staff, but the public is welcome, says Roebuck.
Maxwell has been described as a charismatic speaker and performer whose honest, often hilariously irreverent approach to her own experiences disarms the prejudices often associated with mental illness. Maxwell provides crucial information on how to deal with mental illness openly and effectively.
Anyone wishing to attend Tuesday’s presentation by Maxwell should contact Jess Roebuck at jess.roebuck@ubc.ca by Mar. 17.
Funding for the Disability Issues Speaker and Film Series is provided by the Equity Enhancement Fund and the Disability Resource Centre at UBC Okanagan.
More information about Victoria Maxwell is available from her website:
www.victoriamaxwell.com
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