ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the role of performance storytelling as a modality that can inform and support the field of public health. Three case studies are presented: DiscoverME/RecoverME was a programme conducted at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, US, for individuals in addictions recovery; Inside OCD: I Am Not My Illness was a program conducted at the University of Florida (UF) for individuals with OCD and their caregivers; and the Black Student Storytelling Project was conducted at the UF and aimed at understanding issues of racial justice among the UF community. These case studies illustrate how storytelling programmes can cultivate spaces for people to navigate personal experiences and embolden them to proclaim their truth for the sake of their mental health and emotional wellbeing. The authors propose that performance storytelling is a viable form of care for mental and emotional health-related challenges, regardless of personal or societal cause, and should be utilised widely at the community level.
