Sonoma County, California 94952, United States
Movies
The S Word Documentary
Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope
Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope
The S Word Documentary This documentary centers the experience of suicide attempt survivors to interrupt the silence and stigma around suicide and promote connectivity and healing (e.g. me singing karaoke in Oakland). I recommend you watch with someone and not alone (e.g. watch party) and check out the suicide prevention resources below.
Amazon Prime: https://bit.ly/TheSWordMovie
Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope
Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope
Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope
THE CHILD MAY NOT REMEMBER, BUT THE BODY REMEMBERS.
Researchers have recently discovered a dangerous biological syndrome caused by abuse and neglect during childhood. As the new documentary Resilience reveals, toxic stress can trigger hormones that wreak havoc on the brains and bodies of children, putting them at a greater risk for disease, homelessness, prison time, and early death. While the broader impacts of poverty worsen the risk, no segment of society is immune. Resilience, however, also chronicles the dawn of a movement that is determined to fight back. Trailblazers in pediatrics, education, and social welfare are using cutting-edge science and field-tested therapies to protect children from the insidious effects of toxic stress—and the dark legacy of a childhood that no child would choose.
Paper Tiger
Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope
Healing Voices
(ACES, TIC, Mentoring)
It is here, at the crossroads of at-risk teens and trauma-informed care, that Paper Tigers takes root. Set within and around the campus of Lincoln Alternative High School in the rural community of Walla Walla, Washington, Paper Tigers asks the following questions: What does it mean to be a trauma-informed school? And how do you educate teens whose childhood experiences have left them with a brain and body ill-suited to learn?
In search of clear and honest answers, Paper Tigers hinges on a remarkable collaboration between subject and filmmaker. Armed with their own cameras and their own voices, the teens of Paper Tigers offer raw but valuable insight into the hearts and minds of teens pushing back against the specter of a hard childhood.
Against the harsh reality of truancy, poor grades, emotional pain, and physical violence, answers begin to emerge. The answers do not come easily. Nor can one simply deduce a one-size-fits-all solution to a trauma-informed education. But there is no denying something both subtle and powerful at work between teacher and student alike: the quiet persistence of love.
Healing Voices
Words on Bathroom Walls
Healing Voices
HEALING VOICES is a feature-length documentary examining experiences commonly labeled as 'psychosis' or 'mental illness' in society, and a critical look at America's broken mental health care system.
Writer Director: PJ Moynihan
Reviewed Peer Voices Now Spring 2017
This film poses the question, “What are we really talking about when we talk about mental illness?” A powerfully, intimate look into the lives of three individuals as they describe their personal experiences with states often labeled psychosis, along with dialogue of psychiatrists and psychologists in the U.S.
and worldwide, the film depicts dynamically changing views of the recovery potential for individuals who have been labeled or diagnosed as incurable.
Jen, Dan and Oryx share their stories from the frontlines as they self-define their experiences with mental health in ways that make sense to themselves.
The film also examines the rise of the notion that mental health challenges are ‘brain diseases’ and
points out the connection in our western medicine that says ‘if there is a problem, there is a pill for that!’
Words on Bathroom Walls
Words on Bathroom Walls
Words on Bathroom Walls
WORDS ON BATHROOM WALLS tells the story of witty and introspective Adam (Charlie Plummer), who appears to be your typical young adult – a little unkempt with raging hormones and excited about a future pursuing his dream of becoming a chef. Expelled halfway through his senior year following an incident in chemistry class, Adam is diagnosed with a mental illness. Sent to a Catholic academy to finish out his term, Adam has little hope of fitting in and just wants to keep his illness secret until he can enroll in culinary school. But when he meets outspoken and fiercely intelligent Maya (Taylor Russell), there is an instant soulful and comforting connection. As their romance deepens, she inspires him to open his heart and not be defined by his condition. Now, with the love and support of his girlfriend and family, Adam is hopeful for the very first time that he can see the light and triumph over the challenges that lie ahead
Crooked Beauty
Words on Bathroom Walls
Words on Bathroom Walls
Crooked Beauty is a poetic documentary that chronicles artist-activist Jacks McNamara's transformative journey from childhood abuse to psych ward patient to pioneering mental health advocacy. It is a portrait of her personal quest to live with courage and dignity, and a critique of standard psychiatric treatments.
Poignant testimonials connect the fissures and fault lines of human nature to the unstable topography and mercurial weather patterns of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Short Term 12
The Politics of Memory
Short Term 12
Calm and competent, Grace is a young counsellor at a California care unit for at-risk teens. However, her cool facade begins to crack in the pressure cooker atmosphere as she and some of the unruly residents are reminded of past and present abuses.
Release date: August 23, 2013 (USA)
Director: Destin Daniel Cretton
Screenplay: Destin Daniel Cretton
Awards: Leopard for Best Actress, MORE
Producers: Asher Goldstein, Maren Olson, Ron Najor, Joshua Astrachan
Undone
The Politics of Memory
Short Term 12
‘Undone’ Is a Heartbreakingly Gorgeous Look at Mental Illness
“Is this a dream?” Alma (Rosa Salazar) asks her father, Jacob (Bob Odenkirk), in the second episode of “Undone.”
“No,” he says. “Well, partly.”
It’s a reasonable question, and the answer makes more sense than you might assume. For starters, there is the little fact that Jacob is dead, killed one Halloween night years ago when Alma was a girl. Nonetheless, she’s been seeing and talking to him, ever since a car accident left her with a, shall we say, altered view of reality and time. Today becomes the past becomes her childhood becomes the future.
Her father’s description of her situation also describes the feel of the transfixing and lushly beautiful “Undone,” which comes to Amazon Prime Friday. It’s reality and it’s not reality, a grounded, naturalistic story that now and then slips its tether like a helium balloon and drifts into a half-dream state.
“Undone” creates this hypnagogic feeling as much through its appearance as through its story. As directed by Hisko Hulsing (“Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck”), it’s animated using rotoscoping, in which artists trace images on top of live-action footage (an effect used in films like Richard Linklater’s “A Scanner Darkly,” whose animation team contributes to “Undone”).
The Politics of Memory
The Politics of Memory
The Politics of Memory
The Politics of Memory Pat Deegan and Terry Strecker
Collective RecoveryConsumer/Survivor/Ex-Patient History Mar 06, 2020
Pat Deegan and Terry Strecker
This five-part series includes:
- Why a Politics of Memory for People With Disabilities?
- The Voice of the Oppressed
- Aktion T4 and the Mass Murder of People with Disabilities
- Untold Stories
- Organized Resistance
full-length version of The Politics of Memory
In addition to the full-length version of the Politics of Memory, I am also releasing the viewer's guide. It has more background information on the project and includes talking points and discussion questions for group presentation of the film.
Common Ground Guides https://www.commongroundprogram.com/guides
Lives Worth Living
Lives Worth Living
The Politics of Memory
BY ERIC NEUDEL | IN SOCIAL JUSTICE
Premiered October 27, 2011
KQED Independent Lens
People with disabilities are one of the largest minorities in the United States. But for most of American history, they occupied a sub-class of millions without access to everyday things most citizens take for granted: schools, apartment buildings, public transportation, and more. Some were forcibly sterilized under state laws. Others were committed to horrifying institutions where they were left and forgotten.
After World War II, however, things began to change, thanks to a small group of determined people with an unwavering determination to live their lives like anyone else, and to liberate all disabled Americans of the limitations their government refused to accommodate.
Lives Worth Living traces the development of consciousness of these pioneers who realized that in order to change the world they needed to work together. Through demonstrations and inside legislative battles, the disability rights community secured equal civil rights for all people with disabilities. Thanks to their efforts, tens of millions of people's lives have been changed.
This film is an oral history, told by the movement's mythical heroes themselves, and illustrated through the use of rare archival footage. The story features Fred Fay, who suffered a spinal cord injury at age 17 in 1961, and simply refused to be relegated to life’s sidelines just because he couldn’t walk. He fought tirelessly for decades for equal rights, access, and opportunity for the disabled, including advocating for programs allowing the disabled to live independently. (Fred died August 20, 2011; the film is dedicated to him.) Also featured is Ed Roberts, who founded the independent living movement in Berkeley and is also considered a father of the disability rights movement.
Echoing footage of Martin Luther King marching in Selma, we see protestors climb from wheelchairs and drag themselves courageously up courthouse steps; we watch as quadriplegic activists maneuver their chairs in front of public buses that are not equipped to accommodate them.
The film ends with the dramatic battle for the Americans with Disabilities Act, one of the most important pieces of civil rights legislation in America's history. The thousands of individuals who came together to change attitudes and laws demonstrated the power of humanity, cooperation, and self-determination, and what can be accomplished against seemingly insurmountable obstacles
BOOKS
We've Been Too Patient
Reaching Across: Mental Health Clients Helping Each Other
Reaching Across: Mental Health Clients Helping Each Other
We've Been Too Patient
Kelechi Ubozoh
We’ve Been Too Patient is a collection of a diverse of voices who all share their stories of radical healing and consider the recent movement towards reform in the mental health field, including the mad pride/consumer movement, theater as therapy, peer support, combating stigma, and trauma-informed care. My poem, "She Wasn't Crazy" is in the book along with lots of other stories from folks with lived experience.
You can buy books directly from me, and if you ask for a signed copy, I'll write a special message for you or a loved one. Thank you for supporting authors!
Reaching Across: Mental Health Clients Helping Each Other
Reaching Across: Mental Health Clients Helping Each Other
Reaching Across: Mental Health Clients Helping Each Other
Sally Zinman, Howie the Harp, Su Budd
California Network of Mental Health Clients, 1987 - Psychology - 268 pages
In 1983, the California Network of Mental Health Clients (CNMHC). a network of mental health clients throughout California was formed. At it's first organizing meeting it established a Self-Help Task Force to encourage, support and assist in the formation and in the development of self-help groups throughout California. This task force wrote an Action Plan describing how it would accomplish it's vision. In this Action Plan was the goal to create, publish and distribute a manual on how to start and run a mental health self-help group. Some of the well-known activists who contributed to the production of this manual, far too many too mention by name, include Leonard Roy Frank, Judi Chamberlin, Howie the Harp, Sally Zinman and Joe Rogers. Through their unwavering commitment this manual was published in 1987 and became an instant classic within the mental health community throughout the United States.
Skin, Tooth, and Bone: The Basis of Movement is our people
Resistance Matters: The Radical Vision of an Antipsychiatry Activist
Resistance Matters: The Radical Vision of an Antipsychiatry Activist
The Recently released Second Edition of Skin, Tooth, and Bone: The Basis of Movement is Our People is a Disability Justice Primer based in the work of Patty Berne and Sins Invalid. The Disability Justice Primer offers concrete suggestions for moving beyond the socialization of ableism, such as mobilizing against police violence, how to commit to mixed ability organizing, and access suggestions for events. Skin, Tooth, and Bone offers analysis, history and context for the growing Disability Justice Movement. The Second Edition includes the addition of a section on Audism and Deafhood written and edited by members of the D/deaf community, and a Call to Action from Survivors of Environmental Injury, as well as disability justice timelines, an extensive glossary, and a resource list for learning more. Visit our store to purchase a downloadable interactive PDF or hard copy that you can hold in your hands!
Resistance Matters: The Radical Vision of an Antipsychiatry Activist
Resistance Matters: The Radical Vision of an Antipsychiatry Activist
Resistance Matters: The Radical Vision of an Antipsychiatry Activist
By Don Weitz With a Foreword, and Intrusive editing, by Irit Shimrat (192 pages)
Webinars
Incorporating Youth Leadership into Treatment
Transition from In-person to Remote Services During COVID-19
Transition from In-person to Remote Services During COVID-19
Watch the Recording!
Incorporating Youth Leadership into Treatment
By: Evelyn Clark and Tyus Reed October 2020
Leadership skills are an essential part of life. Every person has leadership qualities. Come learn from these experts on how they have incorporated youth leadership into treatment plans to empower youth to see how their resilience is leadership. You will also hear from a youth who received behavioral health treatment and how leadership has helped them thrive. You will be empowered and so will the youth you serve!
Learning Objectives:
- List at least 3 tools mental health peer specialists can use to empower youth.
- Name 3 leadership skills and how they promote engagement in treatment planning.
- Describe how resilience can be defined as a type of leadership.
Transition from In-person to Remote Services During COVID-19
Transition from In-person to Remote Services During COVID-19
Transition from In-person to Remote Services During COVID-19
Presented by
Kimberly Marquez-Cortes,
Sarah Marxer,
and Bre Williams
Three leaders from a peer-run mental health organization will share lessons learned from transitioning from in-person programming to providing remote peer support services. Peers Envisioning and Engaging in Recovery Services (PEERS) is located in Alameda County in California, which has had one of the earliest, strictest, and longest-running shelter-in-place policies in the state and nation. The panelists will share the decision-making process around moving to remote services and the successes and challenges involved. The webinar will include time for questions, discussion, and shared problem-solving around providing peer support remotely. Bring your experiences and ideas!
Learning Objectives
- Learn from an honest discussion of the challenges and successes involved in going remote in a peer-run organization
- Gain insight into the priorities, structures, and relationships that enabled a peer-run organization to adapt quickly to an enormous change while protecting the health of its participants and staff
- Name at least 3 specific tools and steps that helped -- and didn’t help -- in that transition