History of Psychiatric Illness

Mental Illness has evolved from the harsh treatment of asylum and brutal criticisms of the public to managing symptoms with miracle drugs and empowering patients. Looking back on the manner how mentally ill persons received (supposedly) the right medical treatment, we reflect on our present practices. Have we really overcome the stigma of mental illness? Or, are we still living in the dark ages?

Fault Lines - Mental Illness In U.S. Prisons

Fault Lines - Mental Illness in US Prisons - 17 Sep 09 - Pt1 - Click here for more amazing videos

Fault Lines - Mental Illness in US Prisons - 17 Sep 09 - Pt2 - The best home videos are here

Josh Rushing goes deep inside one of the largest prison systems in the United States to look at the criminalization of the mentally ill.

Stigmatized

STIGMA, the film from Nicolas Laborie on Vimeo.

STIGMA is a series of video art based on the Stigma around Mental Health.


This is part of an ongoing exploration of the misinterpretation of mental Health. PURIFICATION was the first video art that dealt with one of the mind recovery solution: meditation. STIGMA will present itself with a direct, personal and often misunderstood approach by various testimonial from people who suffer from mental illness.




Directed,filmed and edited by NICOLAS LABORIE, monologue written by REBECCA LORI and music by RAEL JONES.




Starring SYLVIE GOURDON, TEUTA SKENDERI and RICHARD HARVEY.

Mental Health in the US

State of MiND: Mental Health from Jai Rice on Vimeo.

Mental Illness from American's Prison

You can view more of these remarkable videos plus interviews of inmates at: www.jennackerman.com | jenn@jennackerman.com

What's on the Other Side?

Here is a short film about the Institute of Mental Health in Chennai, India. Institute of Mental Health, Chennai is involved in Mental Health care for the past 206 Years. Founded in 1794 as an asylum to manage 20 patients, it has grown into an Institute with bed strength of 1800 patients. It is no more an asylum for custodial care but a place for enhancing mental health and a training centre for mental health professionals. Today Institute of Mental Health is the second largest Institute in India.


Visual tour of a mental asylum from Aum Films on Vimeo.

Misery (1990)

Misery is a 1990 American psychological horror/thriller film, based on Stephen King's 1987 novel of the same name. Directed by Rob Reiner, the film received critical acclaim for Kathy Bates' performance as the psychopathic Annie Wilkes

My Family's Secret

When JASON DARCIE (Dylan Neal), attempts suicide, he leaves a cryptic note for his wife LARA DARCIE (Nicholle Tom), suggesting that the death of his little sister years ago wasn't really an accident—and he may have even had a hand in it.

Driven by the need to know more about her husbands dark past and the secret that led him to want to end his life, Lara goes back to the small town where Jason was raised. There, she finds his father now senile and in a nursing home, leaving her with only Jasons younger brother GRADY (Philip Riccio) to help her unravel the mysterious confession in Justins note.

But what Lara doesnt know is that Grady suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder (formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder). Lara's probe into the brothers chilling childhood causes one of Gradys more aggressive personalities to take control, eager to protect his familys secret and willing to stop at nothing—even murder—to keep the past buried.

As Lara gets closer to the truth, she puts herself and another woman, CANDY (Cinthia Burke), an attractive but antisocial ex-con that Grady often confesses his problems to, in grave danger. Realizing that Gradys most twisted personality is in control and after them, Lara must save herself and Candy from suffering the same fate as Gradys sister

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

People with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) often hide or are in denial about the true nature of their condition. They may desperately seek relief from cosmetic surgeons or dermatologists long before consulting with mental health professionals. They may be embarrassed to tell others about what they are experiencing for fear of being thought vain or "crazy". BDD can be extremely serious with an elevated risk of self-destructive thoughts or behaviors. This condition is also associated with a variety of problems in social and emotional adaptation that compound the problem.

Technically, BDD is a Somatoform Disorder as per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition, Text Revision (DSM IV-TR). It specifically involves an excessive preoccupation with one or more physical characteristics. Although this condition is classified as a Somatoform Disorder, it shares many similarities with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in that individuals with both conditions experience obsessions and compulsions relating to their appearance. For example, someone with BDD may have a compulsion to repeatedly check the way his or her nose looks in a mirror. Individuals with BDD have obsessions about either an imaginary defect in their appearance or an exaggeration of a defect that to others seems inconsequential. Unique to BDD, the obsession or preoccupation regarding this imaginary or exaggerated defect predominates any other obsession. Even more than with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, the belief in the defect is very strongly held. Individuals with BDD may believe so strongly in the defect that they can appear virtually delusional. BDD was once thought of as "imagined ugliness" but it is more about perfectionism or, in other words, believing that appearance should be flawless.
BDDers may become extraordinarily concerned about most any body part although some are more typical to have issues about than others. The shape of their head, their breasts, their genitals, skin, teeth, nose, and hair are some examples of possible problem areas. Further examples of imagined or exaggerated physical defects include that one's body is disfigured, that one's body has scars or marks, that their body is aging extraordinarily fast, that a body part is too large or too small, or that body parts are asymmetrical.

Individuals with BDD also engage in compulsive behaviors that are performed in an attempt to reduce the discomfort aroused by the obsessive belief in a perceived defect in their appearance. People diagnosed with BDD may repetitively seek reassurance from others about their appearance, have multiple surgeries to alter their appearance, or attend many doctor's appointments to address their appearance. Unfortunately, these behaviors typically only serve to reduce the discomfort temporarily. In fact, BDD may become reinforced and worsened because this temporary relief creates a vicious cycle.

Over time, individuals with BDD encounter many difficulties due to their strong belief in a defect in their appearance and the associated compulsions done to reduce the discomfort related to the obsession. They may learn to avoid interacting with people due to negative feelings elicited by their belief in the physical defect. Not only do these individuals tend to avoid socializing, their obsessions and compulsions may consume an enormous amount of time, thus, limiting their ability to carry out even common everyday activities such as caring for their home and working. Young people with BDD often cannot function effectively in school or participate in extracurricular activities. It is no surprise that BDDers often are frustrated and anxious as well as depressed.

Treatment for BDD is focused upon reducing body-focused obsessions and compulsions, re-structuring erroneous and self-defeating thought patterns, and improving the ability to function in life despite appearance concerns. Addressing the emotional distress of these individuals is also essential. Both psychotherapy and medications may be used in the treatment of BDD. Teaching family members and friends to understand and cope with someone who has BDD is often very helpful, as is attending support groups. However, it needs to be recognized that when BDD is very severe intensive treatment may be the only realistic option.

Despite the difficulties presented by BDD there are many who can make improvements in treatment. Sometimes the most important steps are the first- willingness to accept that BDD is the problem and keeping an open mind about therapeutic interventions

Sybil

Sybil is a 1973 book by Flora Rheta Schreiber about the treatment of Sybil Dorsett (a pseudonym for Shirley Ardell Mason) for dissociative identity disorder (then referred to as multiple personality disorder) by her psychoanalyst, Cornelia B. Wilbur.

The book was made into two movies of the same name, once in 1976 and again as a television movie in 2007. (Wikepedia)

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One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

Jail is a frequent residence for McMurphy, whose latest conviction is for statutory rape. Rather than spending time behind bars, he decides it might be easier to serve his time in a psychiatric hospital, so he "plays mad." The plan works, but McMurphy soon discovers that life isn't so great in an asylum. The rules are looser, but some of the privileges he associated with prison - like being able to watch the World Series on TV - do not apply. Undaunted, McMurphy begins to make himself the most popular man in the ward, appealing to types as diverse as the diminutive, talkative Martini (Danny DeVito) and the tall deaf-mute American Indian, who is known as "The Chief" (Will Sampson). There to thwart McMurphy at every turn is Nurse Ratched, whose methods of treatment are so proscribed by rules and regulations that she can't see she's sometimes doing more harm than good.

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