In this episode of the Psych Central Show, hosts Gabe Howard and Vincent M. Wales welcome guest Mike Veny, a mental health speaker with lived experience, creator of Transforming Stigma, and host of the Mike Veny Show podcast. In a serious examination of stigma, Mike discusses exactly what stigma really is and explains how there is a cycle that stigma takes and what we can do to break it. He gives advice on how we can all approach the uncomfortable conversations we are likely to have about mental illness. Mike also shares his story of illness and a rather unconventional path that led to his recovery.

**This podcast originally appeared on Psych Central as, “Podcast: How Can We Transform Stigma?”

Show Highlights:

[1:28] The 3 Components of Stigma

[3:23] Is Stigma Really Just Confusion?

[5:51] The Cycle of Stigma – and How to Break It

[13:29] Mike’s Unconventional Path to Recovery

[18:31] Why Now Is the Time to Speak Out About Mental Illness

[20:56] How Do We Approach the Uncomfortable Conversations?

Listen as Our Guest Helps Us Learn to Transform Stigma

“It’s on us to make it a normal part of the conversation, not everyone else.” ~ Mike Veny

About Our Guest

Mike Veny is America’s leading mental health speaker and a high-energy drum circle facilitator. He delivers educational, engaging, and entertaining presentations to meetings and conferences throughout the world. As a 2017 PM360 ELITE Award Winner, Mike is recognized as one of the 100 most influential people in the healthcare industry. He starred in several OC87 Recovery Diaries documentary films, two of which were featured at the 2017 Reel Minds Film series.

Follow Mike on Twitter and Facebook.
Visit his website.
Listen to his podcast