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.

Myths of Madness: Media Representations of Mental Illness, Part 6 of 7

A clip from the Q&A after a panel presentation about mental illness in the media, discussing how people can share stories with public speaking to fight stigma. A women with bipolar disorder asks how people like her can contribute, and the reply describes a consumer who told her personal stories that were negative, and how they were resolved, and that sharing what worked for her was powerful. Another person in the audience talks about his experience with a speaker’s bureau and the importance of training and support for that work.

Introduction to Peer-Run Crisis Respites

Two peer advocates describe the process they underwent to get peer-run crisis respite centers supported by funders in Massachusetts. A detailed and practical discussion about building community among stakeholders, elements of presentations, incorporating evidence and values, communicating a message, creating buzz, and how to present proposals to politicians. Peer-run respites (small comfortable settings for short-term psychiatric crisis peer support care, as an alternative to acute care hospitals) are growing in popularity but many people are still not sure what they are or why they have value. This very helpful video is accompanied by lots of information, research, and presentations to aid people in learning about and starting up respite centers where they live. See also: a 5 minute tour of a peer crisis respite center in New York.

The Benefits of Service User Involvement

A short documentary about why it’s beneficial to involve mental health service users in delivering and evaluating services (peer support workers and more).

Hearing Our Voices: A Participatory Research

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.

title Seth Godin: Sliced bread and other marketing delights
description Via the especially good blog Neuronarrative, a TED Talk by business prophet Seth Godin.
producer TED Talks
featuring Seth Godin
format Flash
date 17/05/07
length 00:18:58
link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBIVlM435Zg

Tags: brain video lecture TED psychology consumer marketing

title Mike Wallace on Depression
description Public TV production about a disorder that is common but misunderstood. News veteran Mike and wife Mary Wallace on his depression, hope and treatment. This episode was one of three from the Health Minds series on mental health to win a gold Telly Award.
producer Theresa Statz-Smith and Mary Puma of Healthy Minds for PBS affiliate WLIW21 and NARSAD
featuring Mike Wallace, Mary Wallace, Dr. Jeffrey Borenstein
format Flash
date 2006
length approx 00:25:00
link http://www.narsad.org/news/video/healthyminds_video1.html

Tags: brain video TV depression consumer mental_health Telly Award