Can science museums help us talk about mental health?
Science museums are increasingly stepping beyond their traditional roles as purveyors of established knowledge to tackle complex societal issues. Despite the global and local urgency of addressing mental health, this topic has rarely been a focus for science museums. However, I argue that these institutions are becoming emotional hubs where difficult subjects, including mental health, can be explored. This perspective is supported by my decade-long research across Canada, Portugal, the United States, and Finland.
A Global Challenge
Mental health is a pressing challenge of our time. The World Health Organization's research highlights the growing prevalence of loneliness, social isolation, and mental distress worldwide. Social connection is increasingly recognized as a critical factor in public health and well-being. My research delves into how science museums are adapting their roles and purposes through mental health-focused initiatives, as they join the conversation on this crucial topic.
The Finnish Experience
My study of a mental health exhibition at a Finnish science center, Heureka, showcases innovative approaches. The exhibit used personal narratives, immersive environments (like a 'schizophrenia room'), and displays to express emotions and scientific perspectives. The Finnish Central Association for Mental Health and psychiatrists advised the organizers, and 'peer experts' with lived mental health experiences were involved in communication training. The exhibit was organized around three themes: 'The Labeled', 'How does it feel', and 'Go Crazy!', aiming to foster safe discussions and empathy.
Adapting for Different Cultures
When the exhibit traveled to the Science Museum of Minnesota in 2018, my research team studied the staff's adaptations for the American audience. The impact was not just on visitors but also on the institution. The staff had to reconsider content, representation, and ethical responsibilities. For instance, the original Finnish title, 'Heureka Goes Crazy', was rejected due to negative connotations, and the exhibit was renamed 'Mental Health: Mind Matters'. The Minnesota staff worked with an advisory committee of mental health professionals and community members to ensure cultural sensitivity and diversity in the content and video testimonials.
Representation and Care
These experiences highlight that exhibiting mental health is a relational, emotional, and ethical process. It involves addressing questions of representation, social inclusion, and care. My research emphasizes that emotions are integral to museum practice, influencing how exhibitions are designed, curated, and experienced by staff.
Navigating Challenges
The 2018 exhibition preparation and hosting in the U.S. brought to light issues of stigma, inclusion, diversity, and the risk of misrepresentation. Staff had to rethink what it means for a science museum to engage publicly with a deeply personal and socially sensitive topic, varying across communities. This 'productive struggle' can catalyze a shift in science museums, encouraging them to play a more active role in public engagement and fostering conditions for connection, understanding, empathy, and collective well-being.
The Pandemic's Impact
The COVID-19 pandemic further underscores the importance of mental health in museum work. My ongoing research in Portugal reveals how the pandemic reshaped care practices, relationships, and perspectives on social inclusion in museums. The natural history museum's education head described a shift in their social role during the pandemic, with mental health becoming a new agenda item. The museum joined Portugal's Social Prescription Project, where cultural activities are recommended as part of mental health support.
Beyond Exhibitions
These examples challenge the traditional view of science museums as knowledge communicators. They can be seen as emotional and ethical spaces where care and social responsibility are embedded in curatorial practices. This shift has broader implications, influencing institutional values and practices. Science museums can actively contribute to public engagement, fostering a sense of connection, understanding, and collective well-being that extends beyond individual exhibitions.
