Michelle Hammer Is Bringing Her Fight Against Schizophrenia Stigma to New Orleans

Michelle Hammer has made it her mission to change the way people think about schizophrenia. This November, the New York City-based activist, artist, and founder of Schizophrenic.NYC is bringing that mission to New Orleans as a special guest at In My Mind 2026, CALM NOLA’s annual event celebrating art, music, and psychosis awareness.

Taking place on November 13 at Margaret Place, the event brings together people with lived experience of psychosis, mental health professionals, families, and advocates to connect, share stories, and challenge the stigma surrounding serious mental illness.

For Michelle, this kind of event is about more than raising awareness. It’s about helping people understand what living with schizophrenia is really like.

From Diagnosis to Advocacy

Michelle was diagnosed with schizophrenia at 22 after being misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder at 18, during her freshman year of college. At the time, she worried about what the diagnosis meant for her future and whether people would see her differently.

But instead of allowing stigma to define her life, Michelle found a way to turn her experiences into something that could help others.

In May 2015, at age 27, she founded Schizophrenic.NYC, a mental health clothing and lifestyle brand that uses art, bold designs, and humor to start conversations about mental illness.

Her approach is different from traditional mental health messaging. Through T-shirts, accessories, artwork, social media, and public speaking, Michelle encourages people to talk about mental health more openly. She believes that breaking stigma starts with making these conversations part of everyday life.

Her message is simple: schizophrenia is part of her life, but it doesn’t define everything about who she is.

Showing People What Schizophrenia Really Looks Like

Michelle shares her personal experiences with schizophrenia to help people understand a condition that is often misunderstood. Through her videos and speaking engagements, she gives audiences a firsthand look at the realities of living with hallucinations, managing symptoms, and navigating everyday life.

She was featured in the WebMD documentary Voices, which received a Tribeca X Award nomination, and has appeared in media outlets including Mashable, BuzzFeed, and The Cut. She has also spoken at events and educational programs, bringing her lived experience directly to audiences.

Michelle doesn’t shy away from the difficult parts of schizophrenia, but she also wants people to see the bigger picture. People living with schizophrenia have jobs, relationships, businesses, creative interests, and goals. Their lives are about much more than their diagnosis.

By sharing her story honestly, she hopes to replace fear and assumptions with understanding.

Bringing Her Message to In My Mind 2026

Michelle will join CALM NOLA’s In My Mind 2026 as a special guest for an evening centered on creativity, community, and psychosis awareness.

The event will feature live music by Tonya Boyd-Cannon and the Nabil Muquit Quartet, artwork created by people with lived experience of psychosis, and performances by The Merry Antoinettes.

Now in its 11th year, In My Mind creates opportunities for people with lived experience, families, clinicians, and community members to come together and learn from one another.

For Michelle, participating in events like this is another way to bring lived experience into the mental health conversation. She believes that people who have experienced schizophrenia firsthand should have a meaningful role in educating others and challenging the stereotypes that continue to surround the diagnosis.

Fighting Stigma, One Conversation at a Time

Through Schizophrenic.NYC, Michelle has built a business around a subject that many people still find difficult to discuss. Her work combines entrepreneurship, art, humor, and advocacy to encourage people to rethink their assumptions about mental illness.

Her goal isn’t simply to tell people that stigma exists. It’s to get them talking, asking questions, and seeing people with schizophrenia as individuals rather than diagnoses.

As she heads to New Orleans for In My Mind 2026, Michelle continues to do what she has been doing for years: using her voice and creativity to make mental health conversations more honest, accessible, and inclusive.

In My Mind 2026 takes place Friday, November 13, at Margaret Place in New Orleans.

Event Information

Event: In My Mind 2026
Date: November 13, 2026
Location: Margaret Place, New Orleans, Louisiana
VIP Happy Hour: 6–7 p.m.
General Admission: 7–10 p.m.

For tickets and event information, visit CALM NOLA’s events page.

Learn more about Michelle’s advocacy and mental health brand at Schizophrenic.NYC.