I know how it feels to be depressed, isolated and lonely. That is why I decided to dedicate this documentary to mental health. Making a movie about mental health is important because it helps people to understand mental illnesses better and reduces the shame and stigma that often come with these issues.
My friend Renata was officially diagnosed with bipolar disorder type 2 five years ago when she was 38 years old. During her life, she felt that something was not right, as she struggled with episodes of a deep and long depression but did not see them as something that needed to be taken care of medically. She misconstrued her hypomanic periods as a normal happy life when she was full of energy, ideas and desire to be very active. But at 38, she hit a brick wall and went into the deepest and darkest depression she has ever experienced. This led
her to seek psychiatric help and get a proper diagnosis. The combination of her commitment to both pharmacological treatment and psychotherapy lead to amazing results of acceptance and mastery of her condition. All her past experiences and challenges with the illness she has encountered led her to the idea of studying counselling to help other people struggling with their mental health.
Movies are a good way to show what it's like to live with a mental illness, and can help people to feel less alone. By sharing personal experiences or those of others, a movie about mental health can also encourage people to seek help when they need it. Overall, making a movie about mental health is a way to help others and make a difference.
Renata's website: www.renatawebster.com
Renata's instagram: renatawebster_counselling
LZ stories: leraz_ph9
Movie by Lera Zavyalova
June 2023