Mad Poetry: Mental Illness Reimagined
*Trigger warning: mental illness and suicide*
Welcome to Mad Poetry: Mental Illness Reimagined.
My name is Georgia Vrakas. I am a bipolar woman, a clinical psychologist, a university professor and I write poetry on my mental illness journey.
In this podcast, I will explore the ups and downs of mental illness. In each episode I will be sharing discussion points on mental illness as well one of my poems to encourage reflection on what it is to live with a mental illness.
Why poetry and mental illness? Poetry can offer us valuable perspectives and insights on living with a mental illness. It can also help us in our recovery process. Poetry has been a balm for me. It has grounded me and helped quiet my mind.
I hope this podcast offers you a soft place to land.
I would love to hear from you!
For questions and comments: themadpoetrypodcast@gmail.com
For updates on upcoming episodes check out my IG account @themadpoetrypodcast
Cover art by Jean-François Houle
Intro/outro music: Finding Hope (Emotional Cinematic Inspiring Piano, by Yudi Ashady (ASCAP) via Pond5
Suicide prevention ressources:
Please call 988 in Canada & US
Mental health resources:
For Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/mental-health-services/mental-health-get-help.html
World: https://www.iasp.info/suicidalthoughts/
Mad Poetry: Mental Illness Reimagined
Breaking the Stigma
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Trigger Warning: Mental Illness
This episode explores how stigma shapes the lives of those of us living with a mental illness, personally, professionally, and socially. The dominant stories society tells about us cast us at best as dysfunctional, and at worst as unstable or dangerous. This episode is also about breaking the stigma, having our voices heard, and reclaiming our humanity.
Poem: Madwoman (2025)
Advocacy resources:
Advocacy groups for mental health in Canada (includes international advocacy goups)
National alliance on mental illness (US)
Instagram: @themadpoetrypodcast
Email: themadpoetrypodcast@gmail.com