<p>Society’s treatment of people with mental illness has improved over time; nonetheless, mental illness is still stigmatized. Thus, many of us with mental health histories do not talk about it for fear of judgment. This presentation describes an autoethnographical journey I embarked on when I joined the cast of a historical musical about patients committed to a mental health asylum 50-100 years ago. Through months of rehearsals, the parallels between patients’ experiences and my own became chilling. Yet social change towards humane treatment (medication and therapy) meant I was in recovery whereas the patients remained locked in the asylum. Through participating in the show, I finally got the courage to talk about my mental health history in public forums meant to raise awareness and shift attitudes. Continued activism and advocacy will be needed to eradicate stigma and foster equity and inclusion for people with mental health challenges.</p>
