Melody Moezzi
AuthorLawyer
AdvocateUnited States
Melody Moezzi is an Iranian-American author, lawyer and mental-health advocate whose work explores mental illness, identity, religion and culture. Her books include Haldol and Hyacinths: A Bipolar Life, War on Error and The Rumi Prescription, and her writing has appeared in outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Guardian. [1]
Career and work
Moezzi trained as a lawyer and earned both a JD and a Master of Public Health from Emory University. She has worked as an attorney and consultant, as an investigator with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, reporting to the U.S. Congressional Commission on International Religious Freedom, and as executive director of the nonprofit 100 People of Faith. [1]
Her writing career includes three books: War on Error: Real Stories of American Muslims, Haldol and Hyacinths: A Bipolar Life, and The Rumi Prescription. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian and other publications, and she has provided commentary for outlets including CNN, BBC, NPR and PBS. [1]
Moezzi has also taught creative writing at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and speaks publicly on subjects including mental health, disability rights, writing, Islam and Iranian-American identity. [1]
What has been publicly discussed
Sources and other resourcesExpand to view the sources used in this profile and resources to learn more.
Sources used for this profile
The following sources contain information that supports the claims made on this page.
BiographyMelody Moezzi Provides biographical and career information, including Moezzi’s legal and public-health education, professional work, books, teaching and public commentary.
BiographyAdam WahlbergThink Piece Interview with Melody Moezzi Supports Moezzi’s bipolar I diagnosis, 2008 manic episode with psychosis, hospitalization, earlier experiences with bipolar disorder, and discussion of medication and psychotherapy.
InterviewMelody MoezziHaldol and Hyacinths: A Bipolar Life Provides information about Moezzi’s memoir and her accounts of mania, psychosis, depression, psychiatric hospitalization and the mental-health system.
Book or book page
View all 6 sources
The Mighty / Melody MoezziHow I’m Thriving with Bipolar Disorder Supports Moezzi’s description of learning to live and thrive with bipolar disorder while continuing to manage the condition.
NAMI interviewNavigating a Bipolar Life Supports Moezzi’s discussion of sleep, medication, recognizing warning signs, peer support and living with bipolar disorder over time.
InterviewDBSALife Unlimited Stories Contains Moezzi’s statement that she is not “cured” and continues to live with and manage bipolar disorder.
Learn more
Recommended books and other resources about Melody Moezzi and their experiences.
- Haldol and Hyacinths: A Bipolar LifeBook · Melody Moezzi
Moezzi’s memoir about mania, psychosis, depression, psychiatric hospitalization, stigma and her effort to build a life with bipolar disorder while navigating her Iranian-American and Muslim identities.
- Radio Times: Interview with Melody MoezziInterview · WHYY, 2013
A long-form interview about Haldol and Hyacinths, Moezzi’s bipolar diagnosis, hallucinations, depression, suicide attempt and the stigma surrounding mental illness.
- Author Melody Moezzi Talks About Mental Health and MuslimsInterview · International Bipolar Foundation
An interview focused on the intersection of bipolar disorder, culture, religion and stigma, and why Moezzi decided to write publicly about her diagnosis.
- Melody Moezzi: The Bipolar Disorder Recovery SectorPodcast · Wellbeing
A podcast interview about mania, depression, hospitalization, shortcomings in the mental-health system and Moezzi’s perspective on recovery and psychiatric care.
- Melody MoezziInterview · Video and audio archive
A collection of Moezzi’s interviews, talks and media appearances, including discussions of bipolar disorder, mental-health advocacy and Haldol and Hyacinths.