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.
 
[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?