Challenging Views Of Mental Illness

Phil Borges and Kevin Tomlinson, filmmakers, with Marcel Wisler and Elisa Zwahlen at the Transgenerational Mental Health conference.

How do people from different cultures view mental illness? This is a question that a film project, called CRAZYWISE: A DOCUMENTARY FILM, has set out to explore. Exploring both Western concepts and indigenous cultural tradition, the film utilizes personal stories, interviews with mental health professionals, archival film footage, portrait photography, and animation, to discuss stigmatization, mental health treatment, and the journey to recovery.



While individuals may manifest what is called a "psychotic break" within western culture, indigenous cultures may think of this occurrence as a "gift" granting the person shamanic powers. Within these indigenous cultures, that often leads to a period of training, guided by an elder or mentor, to develop their healing or prophetic abilities. That is in contrast to the sick role that the Western world assigns to the same individual, a state requiring treatment and recovery/healing.

Besides focusing on a young man, who has ostensibly suffered a psychotic break, his rejection of the mentally ill label, along with the debilitating effects of the medications used to treat mental illness, the film follows psychiatrists and psychologists, who are exploring other alternatives, particularly ones that involve reducing stigma. For instance, the filmmakers check out a treatment program in Northern Finland, called Open Dialogue, and another, called Peer-To-Peer mentoring, which utilizes survivors of mental illness. These types of programs are characterized by reduction in stigma, effective mentorship, and the encouragement of healthy community/peer relationships.

The signature image that was being used to help raise funds to complete the film.

Perhaps the most telling feature of this documentary in progress is in challenging societal views and opening dialogue to include various types of assistance and treatments that don't involve a cocktail of medications. Perhaps by presenting a multi-faceted view of the lived experience of mental illness, more understanding can be promoted, while more community-based and accepting treatments can be developed that also lead to a better quality of life for all of us. That's the importance of taking views that are different from the norm.

Kevin and Phil at a Coffee Corner, discussing the film.

By the way, it's true that you haven't seen this film anywhere yet, since it hasn't been released. But look for it next year and be prepared to do some serious thinking about this topic and issue.

Thanks for information from this article on Charter For Compassion: http://www.charterforcompassion.org/crazywise-a-documentary-film; and the above link.

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