Books & Movies

CHALLENGING THE STIGMA OF MENTAL ILLNESS…

 

The subject of mental illness is being captured in books, movies, poems, art, and videos.  

Yet the stigma about mental illness remains.  Usually only a few stories actually tell us about treatment for the mentally ill.  At least in The King’s Speech the audience had a chance to see how a speech therapist went about helping the King improve his speech.  But where is the information about why it takes sometimes years for professionals to decide upon the right medicine and/or the correct dosage for individuals with various kind of brain disorders?

 A Catherine Zeta Jones on the cover of PEOPLE’S magazine (June 10, 2011), at least, brought attention to something called Bipolar II.

        Who knew that Bipolar disorder, formerly called Manic Depression, is classified as I or II, depending upon severity?

Well, as we say in F2F… YOU CAN’T KNOW WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW!

   

 So education about Mental Illness matters.

       In addition to the increasing number of books on mental illness currently      available at most local libraries, movies, newspaper and magazine articles, as well  as, radio and television programs are increasingly providing more information  about the different types of biologically-based brain disorders.

The NAMI website also keeps us up-to-date on recently released music, videos, and discussions about mental illness.  Thousands of State and local affiliates, such as our own NAMI Anne Arundel County one, put out newsletters of events aimed at reducing the damaging affect of stigma.

GETTING CONNECTED…

Books & Movies 4 Understanding the Mind

 

As a F2F teacher, I highly recommend this book to relatives struggling with getting loved ones with Bipolar disorder and Schizophrenia to take medicine.  In this updated edition of Dr. Xavier Amador’s bestselling book (May 2010, 168 pages), he wisely notes that these brain disorders prevent individuals from making “viable judgment” about treatment.  On page three, for example, he observes: “Many people with mental illness are in denial that they are ill and, therefore, refuse treatment.” In other words, why would people accept treatment if they don’t think they are ill?  Would you? Unlike many books on brain diseases, however, Dr. Amador doesn’t just ask questions, he provides answers.  Once you read about his stunningly simple program called LEAP, you will feel empowered.  LEAP provides powerful tools for changing behavior precisely because it does not assume your loved one is ill.  It’s a must and quick read for those of us needing help, now.

Here are also some other recommended books and movies for the summer.  Most are available at Redbox, Netflix, or the library.

…A Beautiful Mind (Schizophrenia) 2001:  film based on the life of John Nash, a Nobel Laureate in Economics.  Film was inspired by the 1998 bestselling, Pulitzer Prize-nominated book by Sylvia Nasar.

…Girl, Interrupted  (Borderline Personality) 1999: film based on Susanna Kaysen’s 1993 memoir about her 18 month stay at a mental hospital.  The author is the daughter of economist Carl Kaysen, a professor at MIT and former advisor to President John F. Kennedy.

…It’s Kind of a funny story (Clinical Depression) 2010: film based on Ned Vizzini’s second novel written in 2006.  The story follows a depressed young man who checks himself into a psychiatric hospital.  Book and film is based on author’s own brief hospitalization in November 2004 when he was suicidal.

…My schizophrenic Life:  The Road To Recovery from Mental Illness, 2010:  Sandra Yuen MacKay’s vivid account of how she learned to participate in normal life after her break from reality.

…The Informant! (Bipolar disorder) 2009: film based on 2000 book written by journalist Kurt Eichenwald.

QUESTION:  What other books or movies about mental illness did you find interesting or informative?