“ I was in the closet about being mentally ill. I was ashamed of the stigma surrounding mental illness. After the second manic episode, I decided I had to come out of the closet, because if that can happen to me with a PhD in Criminal Justice, college professor with the prior criminal justice system work experience, it can happen to anyone, and it is.”
Risdon Slate is a Professor Emeritus of Criminology at Florida Southern College, has work experience in the criminal justice system, and has been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. In his life, he’s experienced two manic episodes, both of which greatly impacted the trajectory of his life.
What is a manic episode? It’s a period of extreme mood shifts where a person may feel very excited and happy (euphoric), full of energy or unusually irritable. These mood swings can affect sleep, energy, activity, judgment, behavior and the ability to think clearly. A manic episode can cause noticeable problems at work, school and social activities, as well as getting along with others. Manic episodes include three or more of these symptoms:
These disorders deeply affect a person’s relationships, and one of the key aspects of recovery finding someone with compassion to confide in.
Risdon’s manic episodes have helped him understand the importance of being forthcoming when it comes to mental illness in order to support those experiencing mental health issues in our criminal justice system.
Read Risdon’s memoir, “Resilience in the Storm: My Journey with Mental Illness” to learn more about his experiences.
Risdon Slate shares his experience with Bipolar Disorder and the ways he’s used his story to help others dealing with mental illness in the criminal justice system.
Watch below.
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A grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, funds 100 percent ($123,672) of costs for this program.
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