David Harewood

This week it is Mental Health Awareness Week so to talk through his own journey, specifically his experience with psychosis, is actor, director and now author, David Harewood, best known for his roles as CIA Counterterrorism Director David Estes in Homeland.

From Birmingham, born to parents from Barbados, David has had huge success on stage, in TV and in Hollywood. Yet, in his recent memoir ‘Maybe I Don’t Belong Here’, David details the racial abuse he suffered as a black British boy and man growing up in the UK, abuse which ultimately led to, as he describes, his “unravelling” and being sectioned under the Mental Health Act twice. His BAFTA nominated BBC documentary David Harewood: My Psychosis and Me is shocking and insightful particularly around the difference in psychiatric treatment of black people in hospitals. In this episode he talks through his life and experience, the things that led to his psychosis, the voices in his head, the contrasts between America and the UK and how he became a successful actor despite all of this psychological upheaval and racial abuse. 

His book Maybe I Don’t Belong Here is crucial reading. You can buy it here:

https://linktr.ee/DavidHarewood

Changes is now a deaf friendly podcast. You can access transcripts here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes

Content references: racism, racist abuse, psychotic episodes. 

Should you be affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, in the UK, The Samaritans can be reached on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. Hotlines in other countries can be found here http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.html

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