University of Alberta Women’s Centre Collective has put out a call for submissions from people who identify with feminism and have lived experiences of a psychiatric diagnosis.
Their upcoming anthology, Feminists Navigate Mental Health (working title), will explore the complexities of navigating mental health and how a feminist identity may (or may not) shape those experiences.
Submissions are welcomed in the form of personal short stories.
The submissions received will shape the outcome of the book. The final manuscript will be submitted to relevant Canadian independent publishers. They are looking for contributions that explore the relationship between feminist identity and experiences, thoughts, and feelings related to mental health.
Possible themes may include (but are not limited to):
* Coping – what works and what doesn´t
* Any positive aspects of your mental health that are commonly considered deficits
* Treatment preferences and past experiences
* Medication
* Personal/lived understandings of your diagnosis (acceptance or rejection)
* Stigma/tension around mental health issues in the feminist community
* Feminism and well-being/strength/empowerment
* Feminism and distress
Guidelines:
* Remember to take care of yourself while writing about topics that may be distressing;
* Good writing skills are great, but not mandatory! We will work with you to edit your piece;
* Submissions should be saved in .doc or .rtf, size 12 font, Arial or Times New Roman, and double spaced;
* 500 to 3000 words
* Include contact information and a brief biography;
* Only email submissions will be accepted;
* Submission deadline is June 1st, 2010.
Comments, concerns, questions and submissions should be directed to:
fnmhsubmissions@gmail.com
