How To Land In A Psych Ward: A Conversation With Freddie deBoer

Freddie deBoer has a very popular Substack newsletter and is the author of the 2020 book, The Cult of Smart. He writes about culture and social politics and is known for his trenchant insights into mental health issues as well as his Marxist politics. He visited The Unspeakable to talk about a number of subjects, including a recent Unspeakable conversation about involuntary psychiatric treatment. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder when he was 20, Freddie makes the case that it’s actually quite difficult to find mental healthcare for oneself or for a loved one, particularly in a crisis situation. He talks about the circumstances that led to his first stay in a psychiatric hospital, what services he received both during and after those stays, and why it’s so difficult to find meaningful help for homeless people in visible mental distress.  

Freddie also stayed overtime and discussed his recent essay about why the 1990s were objectively the best time to be alive. That’s a favorite subject of Meghan’s, as is the subject of how to cope with the vicissitudes of the new creative economy, and he covered that as well. To hear this portion, become a paying subscriber at meghandaum.substack.com.  

Guest Bio:

Freddie deBoer’s writing can be found at https://freddiedeboer.substack.com. His 2020 book, The Cult Of Smart: How Our Broken Education System Perpetuates Social Injustice was published by St. Martin’s Press.