Film hopes to break through stigma

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This three-dimensional art pice by Robert Pollard is part o the Northern Lakes Community Mental Health Stigma Busters project, which uses art, photographs, writing, films and other methods to change misconceptions about mental illness. Special to the Record-Eagle

April 30, 2010

People with mental illness talk about experiences

BY VANESSA MCCRAY vmccray@record-eagle.com The Record Eagle Fri Apr 30, 2010, 07:46 AM EDT

TRAVERSE CITY — A film chronicling a local agency's efforts to shatter stigmas associated with mental illness received out-of-state attention.

"To See What I See: The Stigma of Mental Illness" details the Stigma Busters project of Northern Lakes Community Mental Health. The film was shown Sunday at the 6th Annual New York City Mental Health Film Festival.

The 20-minute film shares stories of people who experienced mental illness and describes the devastating impact that associated stigmas can have. Through art, creating a photo-biography, writing and speaking to groups, project participants recounted their journey to recovery. The film captures their thoughts as well as their artwork and photographs.

Participants included those who dealt with a mental health issue such as depression, grief, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, said Cynthia Petersen, community provider relations coordinator with community mental health. Between 100 and 200 people have been active in the project in a six-county area.

Petersen said many people agree to talk about their stories in an effort to help others.

"They might have received services, and they want to impact other people that might be struggling in the community or family members," she said. "They've really felt with their stories, with the outreach work that they've done, that they've really made a difference in the community, to helping people understand mental illness."

She said the Stigma Busters project aims to deepen the community's understanding and acceptance of people with mental health problems. Participants have talked or displayed art at schools, government meetings, agencies, churches and other groups. The film that documents the project has been used for orientations, at community gatherings and conferences.

Northern Lakes received a grant from the Michigan Department of Community Health to fund Stigma Busters. It started in 2006 and grant funding continues through 2011.

Shawn Semelsberger narrated the film "To See What I See" and was active in the Stigma Busters project. She created a photo-biography detailing her own story.

"What I've seen No. 1 is that there's this giant peer network being formed," she said. "It's empowering them to not ... feel alone. Like, I'm not the only person."

Those who have a friend or family member who has a mental illness or condition are also learning that their loved one can't "just snap out of it," Semelsberger said. She's found that people seem to react well to the honest, first-hand storytelling by project participants.

An organizer for the New York festival said they discovered the film while searching for films that dealt with stigma. About 200 people attended the festival. "To See What I See" can be purchased or downloaded at FilmBaby.com.