Inspiration Through Empathy: Peer Support

A short documentary by a student filmmaker about a peer support group in Kelowna, BC, Canada. A group of mental health consumers meets weekly, views a presentation on a topic of their choice, then breaks into smaller groups to talk about their mental health issues and building wellness. Peer support is different than other support services (not a replacement, it’s complementary to professional services) because it’s a space for people to come together with others who truly understand what it’s like to live with a mental illness, providing empathy, reassurance, and connection that can’t be found any other way.

Come out, Come Out Wherever You Are

A call to shake off shame, come out of the closet and be open about mental health issues in order to fight social stigma. Compelling and well-written narration by Michael Kimber of the Colony of Losers blog, along with slick edited images including examples of famous people known to have psychiatric labels.

Click here to view with English subtitles

Mentally Ill Seek Afghan Shrines, Not Hospitals

With only 80 mental health treatment beds for an entire country of (an estimated) 29 million people (in 2009), desperation and superstition thrive in Afghanistan. An alternative “treatment” program in a religious shrine involves chaining people by the ankle for 40 days, allowing them to eat only bread, water, and black pepper, forbidding bathing, toilets, or changing clothes, wearing necklace amulets, and heavy doses of Islamic prayers. “The philosophy is, God can heal you or make you ill if he wants.” Although Afghan officials, medical personnel, and some consumers condemn the practice, devotees continue to visit the shrines to be chained up (or force their relatives to be chained), hoping for a miraculous cure. This video features the Mia Ali Sahib Shrine near Jalalabad.

What Tsunami Survivors Taught Me About PTSD (post-traumatic stress): Healing on the Warpath

An Indonesian doctor describes post-traumatic stress as the heart of a warrior, and talks about reactions and recovery from different traumatic situations. Stress, fear, depression, rage, and detachment are five core emotions observed in tsunami victims in 2008. He says that post-traumatic stress is an appropriate reaction: “It is normal for people to feel intensely if they have survived a traumatic life event, and it is abnormal if they do not.” He talks about the heart of a warrior and PTSD veterans in war, comparing traumatic reactions from different situations. It’s a call to healing, using rage for the passion needed to rebuild and recover. An interesting perspective on PTSD that provokes thinking about how it fits all types of traumas and how it may be used in recovery.

The Brush, the Pen, and Recovery

A documentary about a group of artists who have schizophrenia working out of Cottage Studio, an art studio program for mental health consumers in Hamilton, ON. People discuss their past and present experiences with schizophrenia, and how creating art improves their lives. Art professionals from a nearby commercial gallery join the studio to mount an exhibit. Finally, the artists reflect on what recovery, and art, means to them. “Painting makes me feel like I don’t have to hide,” says one. Click here or on the image above to view the video.

Light to the brain relieves winter blues

An unusual method of delivering light therapy to treat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): through the ear. Finnish researchers present their invention with positive findings from a randomized controlled trial, in this short news clip.

Major Ed Pulido

A US Army veteran describes what it was like to experience a severe blast injury in the Iraq war that affected him both physically and psychologically. 17 surgeries and many months in hospital saved his body, but it took more than that to heal from PTSD that also resulted. Now retired, he works to inspire others to seek help. The military media campaign Real Warriors profiles a series of veterans who suffered from PTSD and demonstrated the strength to seek assistance in recovery. See all the videos here.

Psychopia

A short student documentary about Vancouver author and artist Sandra Yuen MacKay. She has schizoaffective disorder and asserts, “Despite having a mental illness, I thrive on life.” In this video she and her family talk about her art, advocacy and public speaking, why she wrote a memoir, and the ultimate message that recovery is possible.

Melanie Oldham

The winner of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance’s Facing Us Video Contest, Melanie describes what it’s like to have bipolar I disorder (with especially good descriptions of manic symptoms) and how she grew to accept the diagnosis and mental health services that keep it in check. An authentic and touching portrayal from a personal perspective, it’s a great video for someone new to bipolar. I hope Melanie’s disclosure doesn’t affect her “stressful” career, and that winning brings her rewards beyond what she may have hoped for when she entered the annual user video contest. Congratulations, Melanie!

Check out the runners-up and honorable mention video winners here as well, and share them via YouTube. Hat tip: Celebrity Psychings.

A Brief Introduction to the Default Mode Network

Good animation, narration, and music (by Ehma, available for free) in this short but comprehensive description of the brain’s default mode network. Made for the 2010 Society for Neuroscience People’s Choice Awards Contest, it’s an excellent entry and an enriching way to spend two minutes.