The neuroethics of cosmetic psychopharmacology. Four hypothetical situations (with real parallels) are debated by major thinkers on a panel at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism: a person who wants to take a drug for narcolepsy to stay awake in order to work more, a parent considering giving their child a psych med to help with social skills, healthy students who take “Rememberall, made by Hype Pharmaceuticals” to enhance studying, and memory dampening. Highlights. Close captioned.
Producer: Fred Friendly Seminars, Annenberg Media
Featuring: John Hockenberry, John Abramson, Arthur Caplan, Lawrence Diller, Martha Farah, Joshua Foer, Michael Gazzaniga, William B. Hurlbut, Peter Augustine Lawler, Gary Lynch, Michael Sandel, Sally Satel, Antonin Scalia, Tim Tully
Being involved in designing and carrying out an academic participatory research project on housing for people with severe psychiatric challenges. Research team members also reveal their personal experiences and symptoms of schizophrenia, and talk about the group program The Unsung Heroes. Includes video of the Making Our Voices Heard presentation, a powerful theatrical reading from their research findings [PDF script]. Lots more info at a luxe project web site with a photo essay, graphic novel (!), script & performances, travelling exhibit, publications and more. “Back when we started, I never thought we would get that far. I never thought that it would be such a difference, you know, of yeah, we’ve discovered these facts. We’ve discovered that homelessness is a universal problem, and that it doesn’t have to be, and if we have the political will we can make a difference, and that if we lend our voices and our expertise and our experiences, we can put it into a format to make our voices heard.” — Candace Watson.
Producer: University of Calgary
Featuring: Jamal Ali, Laurie Arney, George Benson, Cindy Calderbank, Claude Mathieu, Mary Mitchell, Michelle Misurelli, Barbara Schneider, Dale Silbernagel, Mark Sunderland
Not to be confused with The Office, this is an amusing series too. Mental health issues and stigma in the workplace are the focus. The Interview, The Breakdown, and The Return.
A random brief video: wakefulness in newborn cetaceans and mothers, accompanying a Brief Communication published in Nature, 2005 (PDF). “…unilateral or bilateral eye closure was almost never (for less than 0.4% of 24 h) observed in dolphin mothers during the first 2 months postpartum.” 24 hr video surveillance confirmed human observations of the mothers keeping a near-continuous eye on offspring. Development and parenting occur without much rest “in contrast to the pattern seen so far in other animals, from flies to mammals,” conclude researchers Lyamin et al. Supplemental info PDF here, and the video supplement features a cute baby orca.
Lyamin, O., Pryaslova, J., Lance, V., & Siegel, J. (2005). Animal behaviour: Continuous activity in cetaceans after birth Nature, 435 (7046), 1177-1177 DOI: 10.1038/4351177a
Producer: Center for Sleep Research, Semel Institute, UCLA
Celebrities and family members of people with mental health issues fight stigma in an energetic new initiative. This slick, high concept PSA directed by Ron Howard launches the campaign and web site, which features video interviews and invites everyone to share your story on social video. Spread the word – embed & email this video and upload your own.
Producer: BringChange2Mind.org, created by Glenn Close, the Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation (CABF), Fountain House, and Garen and Shari Staglin of IMHRO
Featuring: Ron Howard, Glenn Close, Jessie Close, Brandon Staglin, Shari Staglin, many others
Very good UK documentary following Nick van Bloss, a pianist who has Tourette’s syndrome and thrives by using the instrument to channel creative energy and manage his condition. Delves into classic questions about the link between creativity and madness (and dopamine), with animated brain scans and comparisons to some creative correlates of autism, mania, and Parkinson’s. Part 1, and part 2.
Producer: Horizon, BBC
Featuring: Nick van Bloss, Paul Howard-Jones, Jordan C. Peterson, Oliver Sacks, John Tursi, many more
producer FORA.tv featuring Nick Douglas, Michael Ferguson, Mike Monteiro, Robin Sloan format Flash, mp3, mp4 date 24/09/09 length 00:42:58 link http://fora.tv/2009/09/24/Twitter_Wit_Nick_Douglas_and_Guests
Producer: FORA.tv
Featuring: Nick Douglas, Michael Ferguson, Mike Monteiro, Robin Sloan
Women Who Served in Our Military: For Veterans and Families Jane Pauley hosts a documentary about the experiences of American women veterans, and their mental health. Close captioned. PDF transcript. There’s also a 01:10:00 version for service providers, here. For more info, email ncptsd@va.gov or call the PTSD Information Line at (802) 296-6300
Producer: United States Department of Veterans Affairs