Looking Back, Thinking Forward: Women and Mental Health

Join Peg's in person or online for a community conversation inspired by art, history, and lived experience as we explore how our understanding of mental illness - particularly among women - has evolved over time and what these histories can teach us about mental health today. Inspired by Kimberly Chapman's exhibit, Eighty-Six Reasons for Asylum Admission: A Domestic Beginning, this community conversation brings together perspectives from art, psychiatry, and historical research to explore how cultural beliefs and institutional practices have shaped mental health care - and how those histories continue to influence us today. At Peg's, we believe art can spark meaningful conversations that deepen understanding, challenge assumptions, and strengthen our communities. This exhibit serves as the catalyst for an open dialogue that invites participants to listen, reflect, and engage with diverse perspectives on mental health, history, and healing. Guests are encouraged to visit the exhibit at the Baldwin Buss Merino House before the program to experience Chapman's powerful work firsthand. The gallery will offer special hours from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm on the day of the event, providing an opportunity to reflect on the artwork before joining the conversation. Panelists Kimberly Chapman, MA, BFA, Jennifer Bazar, Ph.D., and Douglas Smith, M.D., DLFAPA will share perspectives that encourage thoughtful dialogue about women's mental health, dignity, recovery, advocacy, re