Insanity's crescendo: Mental illness and its effect on literary production with(out) treatment in John Porcellino's The Hospital Suite (2014) and Rachel Lindsay's RX: A Graphic Memoir (2018)

In this thesis, the representation of mental disability, stigma, and patient autonomy in John Porcellino's The Hospital Suite (2014) and Rachel Lindsay's RX: A Graphic Memoir (2018) are explored through the frameworks of disability studies and medical humanities. In this thesis, it is argued that both memoirs challenge the stigmatization of mental illness by foregrounding the experiences of psychiatric patients, drawing on the distinction between the medical and social models of disability. While Porcellino's narrative portrays obsession triggered by physical illness, Lindsay criticizes societal and familial pressures that normalize forced treatment, especially considering past pathologization of feminine emotion and gender-based standards. The ethical debates surrounding autonomy in mental health care, particularly the right to refuse treatment or hospitalization, are studied in detail. By analyzing how Porcellino and Lindsay navigate these issues, the significance of patient-centered approaches that take individual experiences and preferences into account is underscored. As both works illustrate how artistic expression can serve as a tool for personal healing, the healing power of art is also emphasized. In this study, how stigma functions within the biomedical model and how the biopsychosocial model, which combines biological, psychological, and social factors, provides a more comprehensive understanding of mental health are considered. Ultimately, the broader impact of integrating humanities into the conversation about mental health, particularly in regard to creativity, patient care, and the portrayal of disabilities is emphasized in this study.