Elac m4 mh_presentation_2018 (2)

1. Movies for
Mental Health
East Los Angeles College
Thursday, November 8, 2018
Facilitator: Leslie Poston
@artwithimpact
#Movies4MentalHealth

2. Here’s the Plan
• Quick Introduction: Myself & AWI
• Setting the scene together
• Mental Health
• Stigma
• Watch and discuss films
• Panel of students and resources
#Movies4MentalHealth

3. Brought to you by…
Monthly short film competition.
Campus workshops.
Global community.
Mental Health Services Act (2004)
1% tax on people earning >$1m/year.
25% to prevention and early intervention
#Movies4MentalHealth

4. Where were you right before
coming to the workshop?
#Movies4MentalHealth

5. Heads Up
• Mental health is personal – YOU are the expert on
your own experience
• Public space – no confidentiality
• It’s okay to feel!
• Films and conversations might be triggering
• Please take care of yourself however you need,
including asking for help
#Movies4MentalHealth

6. Mental Health
#Movies4MentalHealth

7. Mental Health
• Mental Illness
• Mental Wellness
#Movies4MentalHealth

8. Some movies and tv shows that
show mental illness…
Before I Disappear
Rainman
The Magicians
United States of Tara
Breaking Bad
Fight Club
One Flew Cuckoo’s Nest
Requiem for a Dream
Girl Interrupted
Winnie the Pooh
Criminal Minds
Dexter
As Good as It Gets
#Movies4MentalHealth

9. Characters with mental illness
are portrayed as…
Sporadic
Inept
Unhinged
Erratic
Odd
Lack of Facial Expression
Scared
Antisocial
Low Self Esteem
Violent
Shown as The Other
Talk to Themselves
#Movies4MentalHealth

10. Stigma vs.
Stereotype
#Movies4MentalHealth

11. Stigma
•A judgment or stereotype that is:
• Always negative
• Always untrue
• Can be internalized
#Movies4MentalHealth

12. How does stigma feel?
Isolating
Defeating
Sad
Hopeless
Mentally Broken
Depressed
Outcast
Guilty
Hurt
Not Enough
Misunderstood
Emotionally Broken
Shame
Upset/Mad
#Movies4MentalHealth

13. Gladys
By Jessica Jones
AWI Winner, November 2013
#Movies4MentalHealth

14. Discuss in groups of three…
• What did you think?
• What did you feel?
#Movies4MentalHealth

15. What did you think? What did you feel?
Thoughts
Culture plays a big part in how
we seek treatment –
immigration, social economic
(resources)
Lack of funded resources for
immigration/immigrant
IF people don’t know the
resources are available,
people won’t seek them/Need
to educate Latino community
(not publicizing problems)
Need to educate parents
Feelings
Viewed as weak if you publicize
your problems
Generation opening up about
sexual abuse
Pissed – how she was being
made to feel
Can relate to both sides
(normalizing what is part of
one’s upbringing)
Taking Psych 14 – eye opening
and being willing to learn
Just because people look
healthy doesn’t mean they are
People not open to express
their feelings
#Movies4MentalHealth

16. What did you think? What did you feel?
Thoughts
Very common situation that a
lot of people go through when
they come to a country –
feeling isolated
“I’m not like those people on
the street talking to
themselves.” I’m not in that
box – I don’t need to seek
help.
Distancing ourselves from help
due to the identity associated
with mental health
Feelings
Become aware of feelings, but
still tough discussing
Feeling of being lost and
hopeless (feeling of suicide at
younger age) – feels nothing
to lean on.
#Movies4MentalHealth

17. How did the filmmaking
techniques help tell the story?
Blurry and then out of focus (wants to get help,
but doesn’t quite have the vision to)
Gloomy and the language was gloomy as well
Lighting helped convey space of darkness and
sadness – the heaviness
Element of time – elongation of time before she
took that step.
#Movies4MentalHealth

18. Sal Tran
By Kim Huynh
AWI Winner, March 2013
#Movies4MentalHealth

19. Discuss in groups of three…
• What did you think?
• What did you feel?
#Movies4MentalHealth

20. What did you think? What did you feel?
Thoughts Feelings
Felt film was deeper than last
one (relatable in many
different ways) You want to
get help, but are afraid to say
something because of what
people will say about you or
your family.
As PTSD/sexual assault
survivor – this is hard to
overcome because you are
surviving and how it impacts
your education
Felt a lot of anxiety (portraying
the depression and anxiety)
#Movies4MentalHealth

21. What did you think? What did you feel?
Thoughts
Rarely see mental health
awareness on campus
Is socially looked down upon
Feelings
When she stated how her
family and community got
involved – realized she could
survive (not everyone has that
support – due to
background/SES)
Relate to Gladys as well – she
did have a friend she could
talk to
Importance of the shaming
from the and what impact that
has/Something that stays with
you. Shaming is extremely
damaging to a person
#Movies4MentalHealth

22. Why don’t people get help?
Culture
Isolation/Not being trust people
Shame
Financial Status
Judgment
Confusion about what it is that one is feeling
Your own assessment of who you are takes
some time and a process to handle (embracing
your “normal”) to find a supportive environment
Finding the right counselor (wrong help the first
time)
#Movies4MentalHealth

23. Why don’t people get help?
Trust issues from others or trying to get help
Society in general – but our cultures also have
historically and ancestral supports and
solutions for what we experience - mental
health can be undercut
Society not allowing to get that help
Fear of mental health community (institutions)
Seeking help as who you are working against
you (i.e. conversion therapy)
Awareness – not understanding having real
mental illness
#Movies4MentalHealth

24. Why don’t people get help?
Social media (memes) how people are
presented – how mental illness or struggles are
trivialized or made fun of
Economic factor(s) – limited authorized time for
mental health depending on what kind of
coverage you have – as well as what
resources are available to you
#Movies4MentalHealth

25. The Gift
By Steve Bastoni
AWI Winner, August 2016
#Movies4MentalHealth

26. What did you think? What did you feel?
Thoughts
Mom having a hard time
navigating her obligation –
being at that point of “just one
more thing” That small
amount of money is
sometimes all you need to not
go to the dark side.
By giving something to
someone can bring something
to them but also to
ourselves/others.
Never know how small gesture
toward someone would make
or save someone’s life.
Stress of financial issues.
Feelings
Never know who you can help
that may also help you.
Super powerful – he was in
desperation and then found a
family experiencing the same.
Feel good – put smile on face
at the end.
Often get so focused and lost in
our feelings, don’t realize
others are having it worse.
The difference from that hug
and the drawing – could have
saved his life. (Small gestures.
#Movies4MentalHealth

27. What can we do?
Show empathy and kindess
Live with a purpose – make what you do and say
meaningful for yourself. (Own your power.)
Face reality. Adjust ourselves while we are seeking
comfort.
Affirmations – Reminding yourself what you have
accomplished
Writing/Journaling
Knowing self-worth
Seeking physical health – for mental health and vice
versa
Doing something that we love/enjoy/brings happiness
Creating something (for someone else)
See the positive!
Take a moment of peace (close eyes) – give clarity
Take care of yourself first/self-care – make you a
priority
#Movies4MentalHealth

28. Panel
#Movies4MentalHealth

29. Meet the Panel
Golden Sheard
ELAC Student
Carlos Avilez
ELAC Student
Cecilia Cruz
ELAC Student Health Center Coordinator
Sonia Rivera
Director of Sexual Assault Services, East LA Women’s Center
Lourdes Olivares, LCSW
Chief Operations Officer, Via Care
#Movies4MentalHealth

30. Stay in touch!
Don’t forget to leave your name
and email on the sign-up sheet!
@artwithimpact
info@artwithimpact.org
#Movies4MentalHealth