About Michelle Hammer
Michelle Hammer is a schizophrenia activist, artist, speaker, and founder of Schizophrenic.NYC, a mental health clothing and lifestyle brand dedicated to reducing stigma. Diagnosed with schizophrenia at age 22, Michelle uses her lived experience to educate audiences through public speaking, media appearances, and advocacy. Her work has been featured by WebMD, ABC, NBC, CBS, Mashable, Buzzfeed, and more, and she has spoken at Harvard University and delivered a TEDx talk in the Netherlands.
Michelle is exclusively selling her personal artwork on Schizophrenic.NYC. Find it Here >
My name is Michelle Hammer, and I am a schizophrenia activist, artist, entrepreneur, and the founder of Schizophrenic.NYC.
Growing up in a suburb of New York City, I never imagined that I would one day become a public advocate for schizophrenia. As a teenager and young adult, I struggled with symptoms that I didn’t understand. At 18, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but the diagnosis never fully explained what I was experiencing. After years of confusion, hospitalizations, and searching for answers, I was diagnosed with schizophrenia at age 22.
Like many people living with schizophrenia, I faced stigma, misunderstanding, and isolation. The stereotypes I saw in movies, television, and the media looked nothing like my reality. I knew there had to be a better way to start conversations about mental health and challenge the myths surrounding schizophrenia.
In 2015, I founded Schizophrenic.NYC, a mental health clothing and lifestyle brand dedicated to reducing stigma through fashion, art, and honest dialogue. What started as a personal project quickly grew into a platform for advocacy, education, and community. Through bold designs and conversation-starting products, I aim to encourage people to rethink what they believe about mental illness.
Since launching Schizophrenic.NYC, I have shared my story with audiences around the world. My work has been featured by major media outlets including ABC, NBC, CBS, Mashable, BuzzFeed, WebMD, and more. I have spoken at universities, conferences, hospitals, and mental health organizations, including presenting a TEDx talk in the Netherlands and speaking to doctors at Harvard University.
As an artist, speaker, and advocate, my mission is simple: to show that people living with schizophrenia are capable, creative, and deserving of understanding. Every piece of clothing, every artwork, every speaking engagement, and every conversation is an opportunity to challenge stigma and create a more compassionate world.
Today, I continue to live, work, create, and advocate in New York City while sharing the realities of schizophrenia with honesty, humor, and hope.
Because the more we talk about mental health, the less power stigma has.