Stigma and taboo
![A blurred black cat jumps on dirt ground in the foreground, with a distant statue of Pope John Paul II with arms outstretched against the sky in the background](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/41ceb0bb-658e-4970-97df-ca2fd46d6949/panos_00181636.jpg?top=260&left=0&cropWidth=4992&cropHeight=2808&width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Values and beliefs
idea
Cultural taboos arise from a basic feature of the human mind
Unquestioned community rules on marriage, dining and even black cats often stem from our hunger to explain random events
by Kevin (Ze) Hong
![Photo of two people sitting at a wooden table each holding a mug, with a blurred outdoor background.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/f71200fd-1d41-460f-875a-871181d18b6f/gettyimages-455241841.jpg?top=487&left=0&cropWidth=5152&cropHeight=2898&width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Psychotherapy
idea
Think someone should see a therapist? Here’s how to bring it up
Your suggestion could be invaluable, and it doesn’t need to be perfect. These steps will help you get a caring message across
by Kathryn Gordon
![Photo of a man holding a child outdoors at a warmly lit gathering, string lights in the background.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/9540f908-2438-4446-be13-f0cc87a027d2/gettyimages-842790706.jpeg?top=0&left=0&cropWidth=1800&cropHeight=1800&width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Stigma and taboo
guide
How to talk about your mental illness
Careful disclosure can be highly rewarding. Use tips from the Honest, Open, Proud programme to share your story
by Carla Kundert & Patrick W Corrigan
![Black and white photo of a man smoking at a desk as a woman with glasses looks at papers beside him in an office setting.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/b2e13bc9-3e6d-4f4d-935e-b01c707d74c1/final-par159357.jpeg?top=725&left=36&cropWidth=6320&cropHeight=3555&width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Personality disorders
idea
Popular views of narcissism are distorted and too pessimistic
As therapists, we’ve treated people with narcissistic personality disorder. We have a more hopeful story to tell about them
by Giancarlo Dimaggio & Igor Weinberg
![A smiling neurodiverse child holds a red balloon. In the background people hold balloons of various colours](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/a18337c8-35ae-4777-8561-3a3f1cc9da86/original.jpg?top=4&left=0&cropWidth=1936&cropHeight=1089&width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Neurodiversity
idea
Essentialism is insidious – but it might also be helpful
Stereotypes are obviously bad, but believing you share an essence with others could help people who feel marginalised
by Ariana Orvell & Alexa Lebrón-Cruz
![Photograph of a person lying on a floral sofa wearing jeans socks and an ankle monitor with a red cushion nearby.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/589bd9f8-e231-4946-bba9-bb7e6747ecec/nyc72856.jpeg?top=267&left=0&cropWidth=5120&cropHeight=2880&width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Stigma and taboo
idea
The families of people who commit sex crimes need care and support
While they deal with a kind of grief, the relatives of those who harm others sexually are subject to blame and judgment
by Azadeh Nematy
![Photo of a fluffy black dog lying on a sofa with a person in a red checkered shirt sitting behind on the left.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/e9fbd9b5-a8f4-40f5-82e4-d728678aad5d/gettyimages-1027379898.jpeg?top=550&left=0&cropWidth=5664&cropHeight=3186&width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Personality disorders
idea
There’s a growing case for renaming ‘personality disorders’
The concept of personality disorders has been around for centuries but it’s flawed and needs both a rethink and a new name
by Matt Huston