Personality Disorders, Neoliberalism, and Survivor Voices with Dr. Jay Watts

Behind the Stigma

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In this compelling episode of Behind the Stigma, we are joined by award-winning clinical psychologist, psychotherapist, and activist Dr. Jay Watts to explore critical perspectives on mental health.
We delve into the impact of neoliberalism on mental health services, the challenges of Personality Disorders with a focus on Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), and the rise of trauma-informed care. Dr. Watts shares her insights on epistemic injustice in mental health care, and the importance of amplifying patient voices.
Drawing on her lived experiences as a psychiatric survivor, Dr. Watts offers a powerful critique of traditional frameworks while envisioning a more compassionate and equitable future for mental health. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of mental health, society, and systemic change. Chapter markers added!
About Dr. Watts
Dr. Watts is an award winning clinical psychologist, psychotherapist, and activist based in the UK. She is known for her work in critical mental health and her critiques of psychiatric diagnoses and treatment practices. She advocates for a more compassionate and socially aware approach to mental health care, often focusing on the social and political factors that contribute to mental distress.

Dr. Watts has written extensively on topics like trauma, the medicalization of distress, and the mental health impacts of inequality. She is also a public speaker and has contributed to various publications and media outlets to raise awareness about mental health from a more humanistic and intersectional perspective.

Website: https://jaywatts.co.uk/
Twitter: https://x.com/Shrink_at_Large
Paper: The epistemic injustice of borderline personality disorder

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Capitole

1. Introduction to Dr. Jay Watts (00:00:00)

2. What is Neoliberalism, and how does it relate to psychiatry? (00:02:39)

3. Neoliberal values have negative effects on mental health services (00:11:34)

4. What's the role of the state to ensure equal help (00:16:46)

5. What is Personality Disorder - and why it's dodgy (00:22:14)

6. Why Borderline Personality Disorder is problematic, and why it's diagnosed mostly in women (00:35:35)

7. Survivor voices & the importance of protecting survivors (and Dr. Watt's story) (00:51:34)

8. The importance of professionals to incorporate their own experiences in mental health (00:58:58)

9. What's the first step in reshaping the mental health sector today (01:03:41)