NYAPRS Note: As efforts build to find that tipping point in the movement to bring dignity, understanding and community to people with psychiatric diagnoses and/or disabilities, the new internationally acclaimed documentary ‘Healing Voices’ is having a transformative impact in communities across the nation and the world.
According to the filmmaker P.J. Moynihan, “Healing Voices” is “a new feature-length documentary which explores the experiences commonly labeled as “psychosis” through the real-life stories of individuals working to overcome extreme mental states, and integrate these experiences into their lives in meaningful ways.”
On or about last Friday, the film drew thousands of individuals….public officials, neighbors, peers and providers…..to engage in dialogue and build new understandings and relationships.
It’s taken a huge effort to produce, distribute and promote ‘Healing Voices’. Among its most passionate supporters is Oryx Cohen, whose personal story is featured in the film and who works by day as the executive director of the National Empowerment Center.
NYAPRS is very excited that Oryx will be coming to this year’s NYAPRS Conference to show the documentary on Wednesday evening September 14, on what happens to be World Hearing Voices Day and the same day that the film will be shown Paris and Quebec. Look for more details early next week.
See more about the film at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwPXXfML0hI.
Mental Health Documentary “Healing Voices” Premiers Across 130 Communities in 8 Countries
The producers of “Healing Voices” ‐ a new social action documentary about mental health ‐ are releasing the film via community screening partners in a coordinated global event. The movie will screen in more than 130 locations across the US, Canada, UK, New Zealand, and Australia on and around April 29th as part of the movie’s “ONE NIGHT, ONE VOICE” grass roots release.
Produced, Written and Directed by PJ Moynihan of Digital Eyes Film (Northampton, MA), “Healing Voices” explores the experience commonly labeled as ‘psychosis’ through the stories of real-‐life individuals, and asks the question: What are we talking about when we talk about ‘mental illness’?
This character-‐driven documentary follows three subjects over nearly five years, and features interviews with notable international experts including Robert Whitaker, Dr. Bruce Levine, Celia Brown, Will Hall, Dr. Marius Romme, and others, on the history of psychiatry and the rise of the ‘medical model’ of mental health treatment.
To mark the release of the film, community partners are producing world premiere screenings of the documentary in their local markets, which will be followed by a “town hall style” audience discussion about mental health. The documentary is ideal for individuals with lived experience in the mental health system, educators, peer advocates, advocates, researchers, psychiatrists, psychologists, healthcare workers, first responders, family members, or anyone who has been touched by mental health issues in their life.
“What we refer to as ‘mental illness’ in our culture is widely discussed and debated, but not very well understood,” said writer/director Moynihan. “These screenings are an opportunity for a range of demographic groups to come together and engage in a dialogue about a very complex social issue.”
The film recently made its world premiere at the 14th annual Boston International Film Festival and won an “Indie Spirit” award for documentary. “Healing Voices” is co-‐Produced by Oryx Cohen (Grafton, MA) who is also one of the subjects of the film, in addition to Jennifer Constantine (Rapid City, SD) and Dan Sullivan (Amherst, MA).