Call for Book Chapters: "Cracking the Cultural Code: A University-Wide Approach to Changing Mental Illness Stigma Cultures on Campus"

Vernon Press invites book-chapter proposals for an interdisciplinary volume on university mental illness stigma cultures.

In recent years, campus conversations about mental health and programs to address mental illness have increased but often contribute to and reinforce existing mental illness stigma. This volume aims to challenge the culture of mental illness stigma in higher education by identifying issues regarding the presence and impact of stigma with a focus on discipline-specific work challenges. This volume will also emphasize suggestions from a wide variety of university constituents concerning how to address mental illness stigma within their disciplines. Contributor submissions should consider these questions: 

• How has your discipline or department contributed to an understanding of mental illness stigma in the context of higher education?
• How has your discipline or department perpetuated mental illness stigma in higher education?
• How does mental illness stigma impact those served by your campus discipline or department?
• What practices does (or can) your campus discipline or department use to address mental illness stigma?
• How have the policies and/or practices within your campus discipline or department changed because of increased attention to and awareness of mental health challenges on campus?

We invite proposals for evidence-based essayistic and empirical chapters. Submissions that reflect diverse identities are desired. 

Submissions reflecting the following university disciplines and departments are desired:

• Administration and/or Human Resources
• Academic Programs:
  • Performing Arts
  • Humanities and Social Sciences
  • STEM 
  • Professional preparation programs (e.g., education, health)
  • Graduate training programs
• Student Life/Student Support Services:
  • Counseling Centers
  • Residential Living
  • University Police
  • Athletics
  • Dean of Students/Conduct
  • International Programs
  • Admissions

If you are interested in contributing to the edited volume, please submit your proposal (500-700 words), and biography (100 words) by October 1, 2022 to the book co-editors, Kimberly Gorman (ksgorman@wcu.edu) and Kathleen Brennan (kbrennan@wcu.edu). Notification of proposal acceptance or rejection will be communicated by November 1, 2022. 

If your submission is accepted for inclusion in the volume, we will ask you to meet the following deadlines:

• First chapter draft due: March 1, 2023
• Peer-reviewed draft returned: June 1, 2023
• Final chapter draft due: September 1, 2023