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Baked is an installation addressing the enduring stigma surrounding women’s mental health. In 1957, my aunt took her own life after witnessing the death of her young daughter; her treatment consisted of shock therapy and dismissive medical advice to “have another baby”, reflecting the gendered attitudes of the time. Situating this history within a contemporary mental health crisis—where stigma remains the greatest barrier to care—Baked reframes private trauma as a collective, urgent social issue.

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According to the World Health Organization, more than one billion people worldwide live with mental health conditions such as anxiety, PTSD, and depression. In the U.S., one in five women experiences a mental health disorder each year. Suicide remains a devastating outcome, a leading cause of death among young people across all socioeconomic groups. Societal stigma remains the greatest barrier to treatment with the reluctance of patients to seek treatment disproportionately affecting women.