Behind the Stigma Behind the Stigma

In this week's episode on Behind the Stigma, I speak with Adil Hussain, a men's development coach and the Founder of Brotherhood UAE on Men's Mental Health. We delved into the importance of men's emotional expression, the challenges men face in seeking help, and the impact of societal expectations on masculinity.

Adil shares insights from his own journey of healing and empowerment, highlighting the need to redefine masculinity and break free from toxic norms. We also explore the role of men's circles in providing a safe space for men to connect, share, and support each other. Throughout the conversation, Adil emphasizes the importance of communication, self-awareness, and seeking help when needed.
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About Adil Hussain
Adil is a men’s development coach and the Founder of Brotherhood UAE, a community of like-minded men committed to personal growth, meaningful connections, and holistic wellness. Brotherhood UAE hosts a weekly Men's Circle where men can freely express themselves, share experiences, and learn from the wisdom of each other. Adil’s mission is simple: to empower as many men as possible to embody their true selves and live their best lives.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adilcoachesmen/
Brotherhood-UAE: https://www.instagram.com/brotherhooduae/
Website:  https://adilhussain.me/

About Behind the Stigma: https://behindthestigma.buzzsprout.com/

In this week’s episode, I speak with Dr. Awais Aftab, a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University on the Critique and the Opposition to Psychiatry.

We discuss the emergence of philosophy in psychiatry as a distinct discipline, and it's historical evolution  from psychoanalysis to biomedical models. We go into the critiques of disorder classifications, debates surrounding biological explanations and medication use, and the importance of fostering trust and collaboration within the mental health community and society.

The conversation offers insights into the complexities of psychiatric practice and the ongoing dialogue surrounding its theoretical foundations and clinical applications.
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About Dr. Aftab
Dr Aftab is a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University and he is interested in critical and conceptual issues that involve the field. He has been actively involved in initiatives to educate psychiatrists and trainees on the intersection of philosophy, psychiatry, and history.

Dr. Aftab led the popular interview series “Conversations in Critical Psychiatry” for Psychiatric Times, and a book adaptation is forthcoming from Oxford University Press. He is an executive council member of the Association for the Advancement of Philosophy and Psychiatry, and a senior editor for Philosophy, Psychiatry, & Psychology.

Website: https://www.awaisaftab.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/awaisaftab
Substack: https://www.psychiatrymargins.com/ 

In this week's episode of the Behind the Stigma Podcast, I speak with members of the Student Advisory Committee from Student Minds, including Aglaya Freccero, Dom Smithies, and Mahbub Alom Shuhag, in light of  University Mental Health Day. We delve into the challenges and lived experiences of students, emphasizing the significance of inclusivity and diversity in mental health policies. We also explore the role of peer support networks, digital interventions, recent initiatives by Student Minds, and personal self-care practices. The aim of the episode was to raise awareness and foster positive change within university communities.
About Guests (in alphabetical order)
Aglaya Freccero
Aglaia is a PhD candidate in the Department of Brain Sciences at Imperial College London and her research focuses on developing novel digital interventions to improve mental health in young people. She is an experienced science communicator and a passionate mental health activist where she uses her lived experience to spread awareness around mental health. Aglaia volunteers at Student Minds as part of the Student Advisory Committee.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aglaia-freccero-b14781155/?originalSubdomain=uk


Dom Smithies
Dom is the Head of Influencing & Communications at Student Minds. He has interest and experience in higher education, mental health, youth engagement and equality & diversity. As the Influencing & Advocacy Lead he is strategically responsible for the organizations' influencing, policy, insights, communication and student engagement work. He’s worked with Student Minds for over 6 years focusing on various projects such as the LGBTQ+ students’ mental health, Men’s Mental Health Project and is now part of the Senior Leadership Team.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dom-smithies/?originalSubdomain=uk


Mahbub Alom Shuhag.
Mahbub currently serves as a Campus Officer at Coventry University London, and he completed his undergraduate degree in Global Business and Management at Coventry. He has established a noteworthy reputation for effectively representing and advocating for students at all levels and has held this responsibility for the past two consecutive years. He also volunteers at Student Minds, along with Aglaia, and myself, as part of the Student Advisory Committee.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahbubalomshuhag/?originalSubdomain=uk


Student Minds Website: https://www.studentminds.org.uk/
Student Space: https://studentspace.org.uk/

In this week's episode, I speak with Dr. Hipolito, an Assistant Professor at Macquarie University, on artificial intelligence, cognition and mental health.
We discuss:
- The philosophical realism of AI: whether AI systems are seen as seperate from us
- Digital mental health apps: their advantages and concerns about data privacy, reliability, and the potential for algorithmic bias.
- Smart virtual environments, and their advantages and drawbacks that come with it.
- The future of virtual environments for mental health

About Dr. Ines Hipolito
Dr. Hipolito is an Assistant Professor at Macquarie University, specializing in philosophy of mind and cognitive science. She has co-founded the International Society of the Philosophy of the Sciences of the Mind and has served as an elected member of the Diversity Committee and Women in Philosophy Committee at the Australasian Philosophy Association. Dr. Hipolito is passionate about bridging the academic-industry divide to maximize the societal impact of research and also serves as an AI ethics advisor/architect for Verses, a cognitive computing company.

Website: https://ineshipolito.my.canva.site/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ineshipolito
Paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S138904172300133X

In this week's episode, I speak with Dr. Nicola Byrom, a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at King’s College London. We discuss the importance of lived experience in research as well as collaborative research for student mental health. Dr Byrom shares how she founded Student Minds, the UK's biggest mental health charity, and how her personal experience drove her to want change in the higher education sector. We also discuss virtual learning environments both for on-campus and distance learner students and the medicalizing of distress. 

About Dr. Nicola Byrom
Dr. Byrom is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at King’s College London. She studies mental health and wellbeing in emerging adulthood with a focus on public health and exploring the institutional, social, and cultural factors that shape individual mental health. Prior to developing her research career, Dr Byrom founded Student Minds, the UK’s student mental health charity. She completed her DPhil at the University of Oxford, and was awarded an MRC Centenary Award to further develop her work.

Website: https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/persons/nicola.byrom
Twitter: https://x.com/NicolaByrom?s=20
Research Paper: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/13/7/749

About Host:
Seiara Imanova is the host and producer of Behind the Stigma Podcast. She has a Master of Science in Psychology & Neuroscience  of Mental Health from King's College London. She started "Behind the Stigma" to make a meaningful contribution in the field, by providing awareness for a variety of perspectives within each topic.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestigmapodcast/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/seiara_imanova

In this week's episode, featuring our guest speaker, MJDorian, we delved into the world of psychoanalyst Dr. Carl Gustav Jung and explored his Red Book, which Jung described as his “confrontation with the unconscious." We discussed the content of the book, uncovered underlying themes, and examined its relevance to the modern world.
MJ also guided us through a method employed by Carl Jung known as 'The Digging Technique', shedding light on active imagination and recounting his (MJ's) own personal experiences with it.

*All music in this episode is composed by MJDorian himself.

About MJDorian:
MJDorian is an artist, educator, podcast creator, and award winning composer. His work in film has received wide acclaim, including Outstanding Achievement Award for Original Score (VisionFest 2011, NYC) for the feature film: Ontologica. In 2018, MJ launched the podcast: Creative Codex, which he continues to write and produce. The mission of Creative Codex is to explore the mysteries of creative genius through narrative, sound design, and original music.

Website: https://mjdorian.com/codex/
Creative Codex Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-codex/id1430850607
Creative Codex Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7IIv6uXWqQM3qyhzyKBluT
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/creativecodex
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjdorian/