6 s p r i n g 2 0 1 4 C A N A D I A N L a w y e r 4 s t u d e n t s
M
adness isn't just a label or a category. And
Lucy Costa wants to change our perception
of what "mad" actually is — as a scholar, re-
searcher, and activist.
"Mad" is an emerging discipline that
examines the lived experiences of those with
psychiatric disorders and challenges the
way we look at mental illness. Costa has spent close to a decade
working for the Empowerment Council, which is part of the
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. It advocates for those
with psychiatric disorders and is fighting for equality, human
rights, and social justice. is is a group of people, aer all, that
is oen overlooked or misunderstood.
And last year, Costa — who is considered both a leader
and a role model in the psychiatric community
— was recognized for her work with an Access
Award for Disability Issues from the City of
Toronto. "I used psychiatric services my-
self," says Costa. "From that standpoint I
was able to have a better sense of view
of what accessing services means,
and it was something more than
just the journey through diagnos-
tic categories and labels."
Mad about
'mad' rights
Lucy Costa wants to change
perceptions of mental illness.
Sandra
Strangemore
