The Reel Issue

By Anthony Pilloud
Contributing Writer

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is steadily becoming one of the most publicized (and controversial) mental illness that affects our country today. The increasing significance of the issue in tangent with past and current war efforts has spread the word on the relevancy of the issue. Now, thanks to Mental Health America, the crisis is being brought to attention within the Fargo-Moorhead Community.

Mental Health America North Dakota (MHAND) will be hosting the second annual “Reel Mental Illness: Depictions in the Movies”, a film festival that showcases a series of films and documentaries that seek to probe the questions and reveal the truths behind PTSD, one of the most publicized (and subsequently myth-ridden) psychological issues of our day and age. The two day event hopes to delve deeper into the probing problems that dwell beneath the surface and show them to the audience in our own war-torn times.

“For the past 59 years Mental Health America of North Dakota has worked to bring mental health out of the shadows, break the shackles of shame and fear, and shine a light on hope and recovery. But in these difficult times, there are so many who still need help” says Sherry Shadley, the Director of Development for the North Dakota branch of Mental Health America. “North Dakota is grappling with its own mental health crisis as the demand for services significantly supersede the availability of qualified medical providers”.

PTSD is riddled with misconceptions and false impressions as a result of misrepresentation within the media and culture as a whole. “REEL MENTAL ILLNESS: Depictions in the Movies is a unique educational tool that is designed to dispel common misconceptions regarding mental illness, and to inform the public that treatment is available and recovery is possible” says Shadley. “The purpose of [the event] is to examine how mental illnesses are depicted in the film industry”.

The festival begins with a Veteran’s Day kick off celebratory meal and wine reception with a special screening of “Reign Over Me”, a dramatic work starring Adam Sandler as a man whose wife and child are killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks and his old college roommate (played by Don Cheadle) who tries to bring his traumatized friend back to reality. The film will be shown as an acknowledgement to the tenth year anniversary of Sept. 11. Following the film, a panel discussion will be held that will address the validity of the film’s depiction of PTSD.

The discussion will be hosted by local psychologists, psychiatric professionals and consumers of mental health services.

The following Saturday morning of Nov. 12th continues the festival with screenings of the controversial documentary “Let There Be Light” followed by the Frontline documentary “The Soldier’s Heart”. The day will be concluded with another panel discussion concentrating on the day’s focus on PTSD within the military.

“Let There Be Light”, directed by John Houston in 1946, tells the tale of 75 soldiers’ suffering from PTSD (then simply called “Shell Shock”). The film was banned by the Army for its “potentially demoralizing effect” that it might have on recruitment efforts. The film debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in 1981 – 35 years later.

“The Soldier’s Heart”, produced by PBS, explores PTSD in military personal returning from duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Recent studies conclude that approximately one in six veterans from the near decade long struggle suffer from this traumatic mental disorder.

“Statistics show that more soldiers die by suicide than those who are killed in active combat” says Shadley, “suicide deaths among U.S. service members rival that of soldiers who served in Vietnam…yet, the fear of being labeled a “coward” keeps many from seeking help”.

Symptoms of PTSD include anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, nightmares, intrusive thoughts and unwanted flashbacks.

The effect of PTSD on soldiers has been traced back as far as the Civil War. The only thing that has changed is the name. World War I called it “Shell Shock”, World War II rephrased it to”Battle Fatigue”, and It was even called “Post-Vietnam Syndrome” during the controversial war that left many soldiers emotionally crippled upon return.

The event will be free of charge on Saturday for all U.S service members and veterans. Package deal tickets cost 30$ and are available at http://www.mhand.org or by calling (701) 237-5871. The Nov. 11th screening of “Reign Over Me” will be priced at 25$ per ticket, while Saturday the 12th’s features will be 15$ apiece. Students and consumers of mental health services receive a discount at will pay only 7.50$ for Saturday’s event.

IF YOU GO
WHAT: Reel Mental Illness: Depictions in the Movies
WHEN: “Reign Over Me”-Friday, Nov. 11th at 6:45pm with panel discussion following; “Let There Be Light” & “The Soldier’s Heart”-Saturday, Nov. 12th at 9am and 10am respectively.
WHERE: The Historic Fargo Theatre
COST: $25 for “Reign Over Me”, $15 for “Let There Be Light” & “The Soldier’s Heart”, $30 for package deal, and $7.50 discount on Saturday for Students and consumers of mental health services. Service members and veterans will receive free admission for Saturday’s event.

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