20” x 15” - Acrylic on canvas. Part of Lindsey's intension for sharing her artwork with the world is to share research about mental health to hopefully decrease stigma about it. For example, people who live with personality disorders, such as borderline personality disorder (BPD), face significant social stigma. This stigma arises from the disruptive nature of personality disorders, which affects relationships and challenges adherence to social norms. Additionally, there is a perception that these disorders are untreatable and exceedingly difficult to work with, even among clinicians themselves. Consequently, individuals with BPD often encounter barriers when trying to access appropriate care within the mental health system. Family members who provide care for individuals with BPD also experience stigma, which further impedes their ability to coordinate support and access effective healthcare services. The lives of people with BPD are frequently marked by relational conflicts, which extend to their interactions with healthcare systems and result in feelings of alienation and a lack of access to care. The artist hopes that "Ocean of Oil" will remind viewers how knowledge and empathy can cleanse stigma from the murky ocean of mental illness, so people can truly live well.
