Movies in Mind
Movies in Mind was a week long film festival commissioned by Rethink and screened at the QFT, Belfast from Friday 26th January 2007. The short season of films each had an underlying theme of mental illness. The films chart cinemas and society’s changing attitudes to people with a mental illness.
Movies in Mind was a week long film festival commissioned by Rethink and screened at the QFT, Belfast from Friday 26th Jan 2007. The short season of films each had an underlying theme of mental illness. The films chart cinemas and society’s changing attitudes to people with a mental illness.
1 in 4 people in Northern Ireland will experience a mental health problem at some time. However, public attitude surveys suggest that despite higher levels of mental illness per capita in NI there is limited understanding of mental illness. Those living with a mental illness and their carers often describe this stigma of mental illness as a bigger problem to overcome than the illness itself.
So what perpetuates stigma? Most of us get our information and have our opinions influenced by the media. Unfortunately, media coverage of mental illness tends to be sensationalist and can reinforce people’s fears, ignorance and prejudices.
Cinema historically has been amongst the worst offenders. Whether perpetuating the myths of cowboys or psychotic killers cinema has played fast and loose with the facts and reality.
We are grateful to Rethink member Rosemary Mc Keever and to Graeme Farrow of the QFT for researching and finding such a varied range of popular films that challenge the usual stereotypes.
We hope you enjoyed your movie.
