SASFest Writer’s Craft—KATE SEGRIFF

AUTHENTIC REPRESENTATION OF MENTAL ILLNESS IN FICTION

This interactive workshop will explore the complex portrayal of mental illness in fiction through group discussion and analysis of published works of fiction. Participants will examine excerpts from both historical and contemporary novels to analyze how mental health is depicted across genres and time periods. In this workshop, we will consider questions about the writer’s responsibility when representing mental illness and how such portrayals can shape societal perceptions. We will examine stereotypes, the fine line between humor and sensitivity, and how to create a complex character with a mental health diagnosis. Kate Segriff is an award-winning writer and filmmaker whose debut collection of short stories, Animals in Captivity, was published in 2024. She is a medical doctor who works in primary mental health care, palliative care, and urgent care.