Baltimore Society for Mental Health and Social Justice

Diotima was a 5th Century philosopher/goddess who is referred to in the ‘Symposium of Plato’ as a wise woman who taught Socrates. Her ideas are the origin of the concept of Platonic love. Through her work to love her community, under her instructions, the Athenians managed to postpone the coming of the plague for a decade. She represents the quest for philosophical, scientific and social answers and symbolizes the equality of men and women, as she is the only woman referred to in the male-dominated Symposium of Plato.

The Symposium described her idea of the "ladder of love" in which we start with love of an individual and later come to recognize that all souls are worthy of love. After this, we see that the social institutions and customs put in place to demonstrate love of all souls and by those who love are themselves worthy of love. Next, we understand that knowledge itself is something we should love and finally we end up loving love itself.
She is also said to have argued that the goal of love is immortality, "to give birth in beauty," either through the creation of children or beautiful things.

Among the beautiful things we can create is a more equitable world for those who have been marginalized. In this way, we gain an immortality of sorts, by having our actions in love be our legacy. Through our love of all souls, we can change our institutions to also be more fair to all souls. Finally, and most importantly, if we also teach our children how to develop this love for all souls, we will make it truly immortal.

​

Plato believed that philosophy is not wisdom, but the love of wisdom. It is thus an intermediary between knowledge and ignorance. When he asked Diotima if there is anything between knowledge and ignorance, she proposed judgement is what sits in this position. Judgement, is not yet wisdom. She believed ,"Those who love wisdom fall in between those two extremes…”  of ignorance and wisdom— Plato, Symposium

We must always be humble in our pursuit of truth and wisdom.

Diotima Grant Awards

Baltimore City Public School Students “All Souls” Award:

The concept of Diotima's ladder describes love as what we should all strive for in our lives and that on that ladder is the recognition that all souls deserve our love. We need to cultivate this platonic love of all people by taking action to promote equity for those who are marginalized. For this award, BCPS students in the 9th-12th grades can submit a proposal for a project that promotes equity for marginalized and underrepresented groups in Baltimore City around health, mental health, or general wellbeing. This can be given to a single student or a group of students working on the project. Projects will need to take place during the school year and be approved by and monitored by a teacher. Awards can be from $100-$500 and includes monthly mentoring by a mental health professional for up to 6 months. The award may also include an opportunity to shadow a mental health professional in their work to ensure that historically disadvantaged and marginalized individuals have access to culturally sensitive comprehensive treatment in the community for a day. Deadline: Rolling.

 Diotima's Disparities in Mental Health Award:

Diotima promoted a love for her community and cultivated a love of wisdom in the service of benefitting community. This award is to promote the humble pursuit of wisdom in the service of "loving" our community. We need to take action with what we learn in partnership with community members to repair inequities in mental health in Baltimore. Medical students in Psychiatry or Psychiatry Residents who study Psychiatry in Baltimore City can submit a proposal for a project that is in partnership community members and that seeks to better understand and correct disparities in mental health, inequity in access to best care, institutional distrust, and prejudice and racism in the mental health system. For 2021, the award will be given for a project that addresses inequities around COVID 19 causing poorer outcomes, higher morbidity, and lower vaccination rate for marginalized and underrepresented black and brown communities in Baltimore City. Projects will need to take place while trainees reside in the area. Awards can be from $100-$500 and includes monthly mentoring by a psychiatrist and leader in the community on the area of work proposed for up to 6 months. The award may also include an opportunity to shadow a psychiatrist in their work to ensure that historically disadvantaged and marginalized individuals have access to culturally sensitive treatment in the community. Deadline: Rolling.

Grant information and application