Narratives of Mental Health and Mental Illness

Harvard Summer School

HUMA S-111

Section 1

CRN 36004

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Mental health experts believe that even before COVID-19, more than one billion people globally had a diagnosable mental health condition. The numbers and intensity have only increased in the years since the pandemic, and yet the biases and misconceptions surrounding mental health, not to mention the dehumanization and abuse in many communities of individuals with a mental illness, remains acute. This course uses literature and other arts from communities around the world to help students learn more about some of the prevalent biases, misconceptions, myths, and stigmas against individuals with mental illness and how these biases could be and in the past have been ameliorated, contributing to reducing inequity, isolation, and loneliness and increasing the connectedness, healing, and well-being of individuals with mental illness and their families.

Instructor Info

Karen Thornber, PhD

Harry Tuchman Levin Professor in Literature and Professor of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, Harvard University


Meeting Info

MW 3:15pm - 6:15pm (6/23 - 8/8)

Participation Option: Online Synchronous

Deadlines

Last day to register: June 17, 2025

Notes

This course meets via web conference. Students must attend and participate at the scheduled meeting time. Harvard College students: This course is eligible for degree credit, but see important policy information. This course counts for the Aesthetics and Culture Gen Ed requirement and is equivalent to Gen Ed 1144. It does not count for the College's divisional distribution requirement.

Syllabus

All Sections of this Course

CRN Section # Participation Option(s) Instructor Section Status Meets Term Dates
36004 1 Online Synchronous Karen Thornber Open MW 3:15pm - 6:15pm
Jun 23 to Aug 8