1. Two documentaries on mental illness:
a - A 30-minute video on Living with Schizophrenia-A Call for Hope and Recovery. One of the participants in the video is Dr. Xavier Amador, author of "I Am Not Sick; I Don't Need Help". I thought the video was well done and a very useful tool to educate people about schizophrenia, and at the same reducing stigma, and fear of the unknown. Sometimes words fail us when it comes times to share our loved one's struggles, hopes and dreams with some of our other family members, and even our friends. This video can do that for you, so feel free to share it with anyone you can think of! When stigma is reduced, society as a whole benefits. You can view the full documentary by clicking on the following link: http://www.hopeandrecoveryfilm.com/.
b - The next documentary is about families who are dealing with bipolar disorder. The link attached will bring you to the home page of website, where you can view a trailer of the video: Family Matters: Surviving The Bipolar Journey. All the information you need to order and purchase the video is there as well. http://www.marsentertainment.ca/familymatters/.
2. Two good articles from the fall 2010 issue of The Catalyst,
a newsletter from the Treatment Advocacy Centre about the names we use to refer to individuals with a mental illness and their treatment. It seems that people are now wanting to refer to these individuals as 'people with a lived experience' which I think refers to anyone who has lived for more than a minute! I have a son who has schizophrenia. That's his experience, and his life. But it does not define him, just like saying he has brown hair and blue eyes does not define his personality. Sure it describes something about him, but so what? What doesn't describe something about us? I know that some of you will not agree with my views as I often had these discussions when I was President of the Ottawa Chapter of the Schizophrenia Society, and that's fine. You don't need to agree with me - but I have to confess I would love it if you did! Seriously, we all have our own views, and that's what life is about, isn't? Being able to have different views yet peacefully co-exist in this world. I just think that all these euphemisms will not work over time. Whatever caused people to shudder away from using the term 'schizophrenia' will catch up to the new definition.... why you may ask? Because we still do not, in this enlightened year 2011, treat people with a mental illness adequately, at the right time, and provide the supports that he or she and their families need in order to succeed in their lives. I also feel that by acquiesing to the pressures of using a euphemism perpetuates the stigma attached to mental illness. Anyways, whatever your view is, enjoy the newsletter! PS: You can also subscribe to the Treatment Advocacy Centre and receive future issues by email, gratis. The link follows: http://www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org/storage/documents/catalyst_fall_2010.pdf
Madeleine G. Bertrand
Director, NAMI Family-to-Family Education Programs
of Ontario
www.namiontario.ca