The Silent Hunger: Anorexia and Bulimia

NRS Group

This program answers two important questions: what are eating disorders, and what causes them? The program specifically examines anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating syndrome. Seven females who have all suffered from eating disorders, the father of a woman who died as a result of her disorder, and health professionals offer their insights and knowledge. These interviews are highlighted by dramatic sequences designed to encourage a greater understanding of the issues and emotions associated with eating disorders. (46 minutes)

Fragments of Genius: Understanding Savants

BBC Worldwide Learning

By any standard, Derek Paravacini is an exceptional pianist. Stephen Wiltshire can draw whole cityscapes from memory with uncanny accuracy. Both are savants with severe learning disabilities due to autism. Focusing on these two case studies, this program looks at how a disability sometimes unlocks extraordinary abilities, as well as how research on savants has led to a better understanding of brain function. Allan Snyder, professor of science and the mind at the University of Sydney, discusses several theories of savant skills, while Dr. Bruce Miller shares his work on dementia which led him to identify a region of the brain that when damaged produces savant behavior. Original BBCW broadcast title: Fragments of Genius. (50 minutes)

Imagining Robert: My Brother, Madness, and Survival

Florentine Films

For 17 million Americans, severe, long-term mental illness is a fact of life-a fact little understood by the majority of their fellow citizens. In an effort to raise public awareness of the day-to-day impact mental illness has on families, this intimate documentary profiles Robert Neugeboren and his brother, Jay, as decade after decade they cope with Robert's schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Drawing on Jay's heart-rending yet uplifting family memoir of the same title, the program deftly reveals the engaging personality of Robert while expressing Jay's considerable frustration in dealing with the mental health establishment. As instructive as it is insightful, Imagining Robert is ideal for opening a sympathetic dialogue on the treatment and impact of mental disorders. A Study Guide and other resources are located online at www.florentinefilms.org/imagrob. (56 minutes)

Nine to Five High: Substance Abuse in the Workplace

Ivanhoe Communications

The vast majority of drug abusers in America have full-time jobs. Drug and alcohol abuse in the workplace often leads to serious accidents, property loss, decreased productivity, and other deleterious effects on the employer, yet most companies have yet to accept the dangers posed by their failure to deal with substance abuse problems. This program details the legal, financial, and psychological costs of ignoring this growing problem. (28 minutes)

When the Blues Won't Go Away: Women and Depression

Ivanhoe Communications

Depression is the most pervasive of all mental health problems for American women in all age groups, seriously affecting five to ten million of them every year. Publisher Frances Lear and four other women tell their stories of this debilitating illness and how they overcame it. This program offers a positive, hopeful approach to a devastating problem. (28 minutes)

Episode 1: Experiences and Causes

BBC Worldwide Learning

This program explores the symptoms of clinical depression and the physiological, psychological, and environmental factors that can trigger the illness. Patients evocatively describe their feelings of negativity, isolation, and despair while cognitive therapy pioneer Aaron Beck and other researchers discuss the results of their inquiries into contributory causes of depression. Commentary on depression-induced distortions of the thought process, animal and human models of secure and insecure attachment, and a gene combination that may cause a predisposition to depression provides a variety of perspectives on this disorder. A BBC Production. (50 minutes)

Episode 2: Diagnosis and Chemistry

BBC Worldwide Learning

Often obscured by symptoms and circumstances, depression is notoriously difficult to diagnose. In this program, case studies of patients with adult, childhood, and postnatal depression define the spectrum of the illness. The history of a patient with Cushing's syndrome underscores the effects of cortisol on depression, while studies conducted by Oxford University and the University of Pittsburgh reveal the relationship of serotonin and glia to depression. Observations provided by patients, unsure of what is wrong with themselves and often feeling too ashamed or guilty to seek help, offer valuable insights. A BBC Production. (50 minutes)

The Study of Memory

Uniview Worldwide

This program introduces the basic terms used in the study of memory—such as encoding and storage and retrieval—and looks briefly at the historical ideas about memory. Modern theories are explained using diagrams and real-life examples, and the program then goes on to discuss current research in the area of everyday memory. The reasons for forgetting are explored and the biological basis of memory outlined. In addition, the program examines ways of improving memory. The program emphasizes the radical shift from laboratory-based research to the study of memory in everyday life. The program also includes eight exercises for viewers to take part in, including memory tests and a video clip of a robbery to test recall for eyewitness testimony. (74 minutes)

Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder: Taming the Turmoil

Heartland Releasing

This program explores how a doctor and a social worker help families and individuals cope with ADD. Dr. John Schneeberger, an expert on the condition, provides a thorough explanation of the disorder, including the multi-modal treatment approach which combines medical, psychological, educational, and parental intervention, as well as the appropriate uses of Ritalin. The program observes as the social worker helps children with ADD to build their social skills and confidence, and works with their parents to help them with the challenges that ADD places on the entire family. (24 minutes)

Winning the Mind Game: Triumphing Over Mental Illness

Digital Rights Group Limited

Filmed in the U.K., this program sympathetically presents the stories of four young adults-two men, two women-who triumphed over bipolar disorder, chronic anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder, clinical depression, and an eating disorder. Looking back on their lengthy ordeals, each person explains to viewers what it was like to slide into mental illness and how, with the help of others, they reestablished control of their lives. (25 minutes)

Late-Life Depression

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

As many as one in five older Americans have late-life depression, which can lead to suicide. In this program from The Doctor Is In, three senior citizens describe how they have coped with this life-threatening illness. Medical commentary is provided by Charles Reynolds III, director of the Late-Life Depression Evaluation and Treatment Center at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; psychiatrist Thomas Oxman, of the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center; and Lucille Karatzas, director of Elder Services at Seacoast Mental Health Center. The central message? Late-life depression is a treatable disease, not an inevitable part of aging. A Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Production. (28 minutes)

Great Modern Political Speeches

Parker Payson

This program features speeches by several major orators of the modern political era, including Representative Barbara Jordan's stunningly eloquent appeal for nonpartisan judgment at the Nixon impeachment hearings. Ronald Reagan shows why he was known as the Great Communicator in his 1981 inaugural address. Former New York Governor Mario Cuomo's resounding keynote speech at the 1984 Democratic Convention, as well as an emotion-charged 1984 campaign speech by Jesse Jackson, are also included. (53 minutes)

Dying to Be Thin

Medstar Television

This program profiles a young woman obsessed with the desire to be thin. It has taken her four hospitalizations and years of outpatient therapy to help her overcome her problem. Doctors in this program discuss the characteristics of anorexia nervosa and bulimia and identify those most likely to be affected by these disorders. Self-starvation and binging and purging can lead to cardiac problems and a cessation of the menstrual cycle. And although great efforts have been made to educate people about eating disorders, they continue to represent a nationwide problem. (18 minutes)

Personality Disorders

University of Sheffield Learning Media Unit

Personality disorders come in various forms and degrees of severity, including persistent, ingrained behavior patterns; extreme deviant behavior; and problems in social functioning. Histrionic disorder, anankastic disorder, anxiety disorder, and dependent disorder are the common categories. This program, filmed in the U.K., looks at the most common disorders: paranoid, histrionic, and dissocial. It describes their symptoms and criteria for diagnosis. Patients exhibit the symptoms in interviews conducted by psychiatrists. (26 minutes)

Children with OCD

ABC News

John Stossel of ABC News interviews the members of two families who have children afflicted with obsessive-compulsive disorder. The interviews are heart-wrenching, as we watch the children perform obsessive rituals while their parents helplessly watch. Little Rachel can't stand anything touching her body and screams, "Mommy. Take them off. Take them off!" Jade Gregory repeats the mantra, "Unplugged. Unplugged," and exhibits other compulsive behaviors, such as tying and retying her shoes. Family members describe the progression of the condition in their children and the difficulties of everyday living. Dr. John Piacentini, director of a children's OCD clinic, explains the chemical causes of the condition, the treatments available, and what parents can do to help afflicted children. (15 minutes)

Living with ADHD

BBC Worldwide Learning

Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder need not miss out on crucial educational opportunities. This program describes new medical strategies designed specifically for parents struggling to keep ADHD from controlling their households and limiting the prospects and happiness of their children. It also focuses on the challenges of parents who, in addition to their children, are diagnosed with the disorder. While presenting concerns that Ritalin and other drugs have led to overmedication, the video demonstrates that clinical advances are enabling children to learn constructive behavior, build relationships, and lay the foundations of a rewarding life. A BBCW Production. (50 minutes)

Lost in the Mirror: Women with Multiple Personalities

ABC News

In this program, ABC News anchors Diane Sawyer and Sam Donaldson study the causes and key signs of dissociative identity disorder and the fragmented lives of two people dealing with its effects. "It isn't role playing and it is not mood swings. They are totally separate entities," says Chris Sizemore, the inspiration for the 1957 film The Three Faces of Eve. For 44 years, 22 personalities of various ages ruled her life. But for Lucy, a wife and mother of two, her personalities are not yet fully reintegrated. Sexually abused as a child, she developed seven little-girl personalities in addition to her adult one-further proof that child abuse can shatter an entire life. (23 minutes)

Measuring Success in Treatment for Autism

Nightline

Four years have gone by since the two preschool boys profiled in Autism and Applied Behavioral Analysis began intensive ABA therapy-formerly considered controversial, but now hailed as one of the few effective approaches to treating the disorder. This ABC News program brings viewers up to date on the boys and further explains the benefits of ABA in treating autism. But the program communicates a sense of frustration, as well-with the financial expense of ABA therapy, with the limited success of even this form of autism treatment, and with how much is simply still not understood about this mysterious disorder. (22 minutes)

Acutely Anxious

TVF International

Acute anxiety, one of the most common psychiatric illnesses, makes everyday experiences like walking down the street or talking on the phone a source of potential terror. This program explains how and why this happens as it examines the physiology and psychology of anxiety, its symptoms, its highly maladaptive consequences, and treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy. Case studies involving panic disorders and social phobia are spotlighted. (48 minutes)

Memory Masters: How Savants Store Information

Electric Sky

Reudiger Gamm performs complex arithmetic instantly and without help-his brain stores numbers like a calculator. Orlando Sorrel remembers exactly what he was doing on any date, at any hour, and can accurately predict the day of the week thousands of years in the future. Kim Peek-the original "Rain Man"-has read 12,000 books and hasn't forgotten a single word. What lies behind these astonishing abilities? This program explores recent research into the vast mental capacities of so-called savants. Studying brain structure and other important neurological factors, the film also examines why savants often lack basic interpersonal and survival skills. (53 minutes)

A Little Matter of Gender: Developmental Differences among Savants

Electric Sky

One of the great success stories from the world of autism, Temple Grandin revolutionized the field of livestock management, empowered by her sensitivity with animals. Tommy McHugh displayed no such sensitivity-until a brain hemorrhage transformed him from a brawler into a gentle soul. As scientists continue to investigate differences between the male and female brain, the special characteristics of autistics and savants take on increased importance. This program describes the latest research in that area, shedding light on the role of testosterone, fetal development, evolutionary factors, and the notable lack of romantic and sexual bonding among the autistic. (53 minutes)

The Anatomy of Laughter

Muse Distribution International

What happens in our brains when we think something is funny? Is laughter a form of self-defense? Can a joke be scientifically analyzed? This program studies the human response to humor from a physiological and psychological standpoint. Highlighting the importance of vocal cords in producing laughter, the program contrasts human and simian forms of humor and gives viewers an evolutionary perspective on laughter's role in cooperation and adaptation. Also featured are interviews with comedians-one teenaged, the other 92 years old-who demonstrate basic joke mechanics, while doctors and patients express varying degrees of skepticism about laughter's healing power. (49 minutes)

Unchaining the Mind: Advances in Schizophrenia Research

Animated Biomedical Production

In the late 1790s the young director of a Paris insane asylum prohibited the use of chains and shackles. Philippe Pinel’s decision is the first of many advances detailed in this program, which studies the history and physiology of schizophrenia, and illustrates current research aimed at finding a cure. Outlining the functions of neurotransmitters and the development of antipsychotic drugs, the video discusses newer medications and the importance of long-term care—with special attention to the "clubhouse" approach, including interviews with patients, psychiatrists, and mental health nurses. Cognitive therapy is also examined as a vital form of treatment. (36 minutes)

Kids under Pressure

American Public Television (APT)

More American children are showing symptoms of severe stress-from poor academic performance to psychosomatic illnesses. This video illustrates methods that help reduce anxiety in children while building their love of learning. (22 minutes)

Messing with Heads: Marijuana and Mental Illness

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

For decades, heavy marijuana use has been linked to impaired judgment and mental ability. This program explores new research into another link—this time between marijuana and mental illnesses, specifically schizophrenia and paranoid psychosis. Citing a wealth of clinical evidence and observations by neurologists, psychiatrists, and psychologists, the program delves into the frightening effects of THC on young brains: psychotic delusions and behavior that may not appear until years after drug abuse has ended. With pot addiction beginning at increasingly young ages around the world, this program is essential viewing in any antidrug education campaign. (46 minutes)

War of the Sexes: Emotion

Filmoption International

When asked to describe birth from a baby's perspective, a group of women talk about fear, elation, and other feelings-while their male counterparts summon only physical sensations. What causes such a contrast? This program explores the divergent emotional tendencies of men and women, throwing gender differences into bold relief through spontaneous theatrical exercises and expert commentary. While confirming that expression of and reaction to emotion varies according to sex, the program also demonstrates that the male psyche values emotion no less than the female-as suggested by a collaborative storytelling session in which men craft the more evocative tale. (45 minutes)

The Anatomy of Crying

Muse Distribution International

Humans may be the only species to shed tears. Does that make crying a strictly human act? This program explores the deep well of animal instinct that, shaped by eons of evolution, still informs our expression of grief, fear, anger, and even joy. Focusing on the development of distress signals in early hominid infant behavior, the program investigates differences in crying between adults and children, men and women, and Western and non-Western cultures. The three varieties of tears-basal, irritant, and emotional-and their chemical makeup are identified, evoking a link between emotional release, the secretion of certain proteins, and the human body's metabolism. (49 minutes)

I'm a Child Anorexic

BBC Worldwide Learning

Therapists in America and Europe have noticed a disturbing trend: anorexia now appears in elementary-school-age children. This film documents the highs and lows of a London clinic's 12-week program, during which malnourished patients must confront and conquer their fears of eating. Girls as young as eight enter the clinic dangerously emaciated and depressed-and although most battle their way back to good health and reunions with loved ones, do their attitudes toward food really change? Once home, will they revert to old ways? The documentary reveals frighteningly distorted beliefs that run rampant among the young patients-one girl even insists that water contains calories-and it offers surprising revelations about the role of idealized body images in the media. A BBCW Production. (57 minutes)

Myths about Madness: Challenging Stigma and Changing Attitudes

Mental Health Media

Fear and misunderstanding are major roadblocks on the path to effective community care for people with mental illnesses. This concise training tool exposes the myths surrounding afflictions of the mind and challenges discrimination against the mentally ill. Interviews with mental health professionals, journalists, researchers, and people who have themselves been through the mental health system raise questions about the public's attitude toward mental illness. In addition, people diagnosed with mental health problems speak candidly about the stigmatizing impact of living with a label. (23 minutes)

Depression: Moving On

The Royal College of Nursing

It can happen to teens. New mothers. The elderly. In fact, it can afflict almost anyone. Filmed in the U.K., this comprehensive program spells out the details of clinical depression in seven concise segments: Defining the Problem, Classifying the Symptoms, Depression in Children, Depression in Adults, Supporting Patients with Depression, Assessment, and Therapy and Treatment. Dramatizations of nurse/patient interviews offer the opportunity to observe firsthand the signs of depression reflected by the patients' answers and behaviors. Patient assessment questions are provided as well. (27 minutes)

Autism and Applied Behavioral Analysis

Nightline

Research has shown that some children with autism who are enrolled in a curriculum of applied behavioral analysis at a young enough age can be mainstreamed right into the public school system. This ABC News program profiles two children with autism who receive this intensive form of therapy and discusses the mixed results of it. Although the degree of improvement attributable to ABA varies from child to child, any gains, large or small, are of immense value to the children-and to those who love them. (22 minutes)

Eating Disorders

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

An estimated six million people have eating disorders-a complex disease that has no one cause, which involves biological, social, and emotional problems, and in which the pressure to be thin plays a major role. This program from The Doctor Is In covers the personality profiles of those likeliest to develop anorexia, explains their perceived need to be thin and inability to acknowledge that they are thin enough, shows how anorexia develops and demonstrates its symptoms, and explores with former anorexics how they were cured. It also explains that many anorexics move from one eating disorder to another throughout their lives; that overexercising can be as dangerous as a limited diet; and that purges can be even more destructive. Those suffering from eating disorders are usually aware that something is wrong but may not know where to go for help, or feel too ashamed to tell someone. The program indicates how friends and families can help, what treatment consists of, and what steps are being taken at some schools to forestall problems. A Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center production. (26 minutes)

The Shattered Mind

History Education

In this edition of Investigative Reports, interviews with physicians, psychiatrists, and patients create a composite portrait of schizophrenia. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (45 minutes)

Real Life Teens: Peer Pressure

TMW Media Group

This program is designed to help teens feel comfortable discussing issues surrounding the topic of peer pressure. Subjects covered include the positive effects of peer pressure; the negative effects of peer pressure; how to avoid negative peer pressure; where most peer pressure situations occur; and where to turn for help. After completing the program, students will have a better understanding of peer pressure and its effects. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online. (21 minutes)

Real Life Teens: Alcohol

TMW Media Group

This program discusses the effects and consequences of drinking alcohol. Subjects covered include the effects of alcohol; the risks involved with alcohol; alcohol use and peer pressure; the long-term health risks involved with alcohol; the parts of the body responsible for breaking down alcohol; alcohol abuse and dependency; the warning signs of alcohol dependency; and organizations that help with alcohol abuse and dependency. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online. (19 minutes)

Real Life Teens: Teen Depression

TMW Media Group

Depression can be a devastating condition for teens. Through this program, viewers will learn about the real risks of depression, how to identify depression, and how depression interferes with a person’s life. Subjects covered include defining depression; the warning signs of depression; identifying the roots of depression; depression and home life; self-medication; self-destructive choices; getting help; and teen suicide. This is real advice for a dangerous and widespread condition among today’s teens. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online. (21 minutes)

The Downside of High: The Link Between Marijuana and Schizophrenia

Banijay Rights Limited

Is today’s super-potent pot damaging young minds? Modern growing techniques have dramatically increased THC levels, ramping up the impact on the developing teenage brain. Some experts say that teens who start smoking marijuana heavily before the age of 16 are four times more likely to become schizophrenic than those who don’t smoke it at all. This program explores scientific discoveries about marijuana and its possible link to mental illness, with commentary from outspoken cannabis critic Professor Robin Murray of the Psychosis Research Group. Viewers follow three young people as they battle psychosis, paranoia, and hallucinations, all triggered by smoking pot. (44 minutes)

Adolescent Depression

Ebix Inc.

Adolescent depression is a disorder that affects teenagers. It leads to sadness, discouragement, and a loss of self-worth and interest in their usual activities.

Autism

Ebix Inc.

Autism is a developmental disorder that appears in the first three years of life and affects the brain’s normal development of social and communication skills.

On the Trail of Evil: A Journey to the Center of the Brain

Albatross World Sales

They're charming, they lie effortlessly, and they can commit acts of extreme violence without the slightest twinge of remorse. Are such people born with no conscience? What are their thoughts as they rape, torture, and kill? Is there a way to recognize them before they do harm? In this fascinating documentary, experts trace the roots of psychopathy as they take on the “nature vs. nurture” debate, using medical technology and interviews with criminal offenders to support their theories. Chilling testimony from Congolese child soldiers and former Nazis reveals that even decent people from loving homes can become ruthless murderers...and are capable of justifying their actions. Some content may be objectionable. (53 minutes)

ADHD Rush Hour

Andrea Stucovitz

The issues surrounding attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, are fiercely debated. Who decides when rambunctious behavior has become a psychiatric concern? Do the benefits of Ritalin outweigh its risks? Is ADHD even a true disorder, or just another way for pharmaceutical companies to make money? This program speaks with students diagnosed with ADHD and to nearly a dozen medical and academic experts about its identification and treatment. Pediatrics professor William B. Carey believes that ADHD is being overdiagnosed, and Dr. William Pelham describes a successful treatment plan based on behavior modification—even as young people with ADHD praise the positive results of taking their meds. Other topics include genetic factors, medication risks, teachers as diagnosticians, and the centuries-long history of medicalizing hyperactivity. (Portions with English subtitles, 76 minutes)

Art Therapy: A Universal Language for Healing

Psychotherapy.net

When noted art therapist Judith Rubin invited her peers to submit footage of art therapy in action she received hundreds of hours of material from all over the world. This program draws from those submissions to document the use of art therapy in a wide variety of cultural settings. Vividly expressive works from children and adults affected by Israel's Six-Day War, America's 9/11 terror attacks, the 2011 Japanese tsunami, and other traumatic upheavals are shown throughout to illustrate the power of this modality. In addition, clinicians discuss the history of art therapy-which began with Carl Jung-their own training in the field, and the need for consistent standards. (45 minutes)

Expressive Arts Therapy Groups: The Green Creature Within

Psychotherapy.net

Every week for two years during the early 1980s, a group of adolescents met at the Pittsburgh Child Guidance Center to participate in an expressive arts therapy program. To meet their different needs, a wide variety of materials was made available, with the hope that at least one of the creative modalities would enable the young people to overcome what one called “that green creature within.” This program uses footage from the sessions to demonstrate the efficacy of using painting, drama, music, dance, sculpture, and photography as part of adolescent psychotherapy. In addition, the video includes detailed case studies of two of the group’s members. (25 minutes)

So You’re Going Crazy… Living with a Delusional Disorder

Hilary Dean

“Having suffered from mental illness, I know how terrifying, bewildering, and isolating the experience can be,” says Hilary Dean. “Even after years of recovery, I continue my attempts to somehow process it.” Dean directs this eye-opening film while at the same time discussing her challenges candidly—with an agile, disarming sense of humor—before the camera. Using clever animation sequences to illustrate insights, Dean provides detailed descriptions of the hallucinations and disturbing life situations brought on by her delusional disorder. She also generously shares screen time with mental health professionals who provide expert commentary, and with other people who have learned to cope with mental illness. The result is a rich narrative that addresses the deeply entrenched cultural stigma as well as the inner fears and personal hurdles facing those who live with mental illness. Contains mature content. (51 minutes)

TEDTalks: Elyn Saks—A Tale of Mental Illness…from the Inside

TED

"Is it okay if I totally trash your office?" It's a question Elyn Saks once asked her doctor, and it wasn't a joke. A legal scholar, in 2007 Saks came forward with her own story of schizophrenia—a condition controlled by drugs and therapy yet ever-present. In this powerful TEDTalk, she asks us to see people with mental illnesses clearly, honestly, and compassionately.

A Moment of Clarity: Bipolar Disorder and the Power of Art in Recovery

Kevin Cullen

This intimate documentary offers a fresh perspective on the relationship between creativity and mental illness through the life and artwork of painter Isti Kaldor. At age 19, Kaldor experienced his first manic break while attending medical school, received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, and began painting soon afterward. Eleven years and 13 manic episodes later—four of which occurred during the filming of this documentary—Kaldor sees painting as both creative expression and a way to communicate. Throughout the program he narrates his inner experience as it happens and tries to make sense of how his moods influence his perceptions of the world. As Kaldor discusses the social stigma of bipolar disorder and the grandiose delusions that can precede its manic phase, the power of art becomes increasingly clear. (98 minutes)

Episode 1: Family, Friends, and Lovers (This Emotional Life)

PBS

What activities in the brain lay the foundation for social interaction? Does brain activity have anything to do with why some relationships flourish and others fail? This program looks at the science behind human connections, and the importance of those connections to emotional well-being. Viewers meet a young boy adopted from a Russian orphanage whose lack of nurturing in infancy now affects his ability to build relationships; a couple in counseling for a troubled marriage; a teen who was bullied, with tragic consequences; and two women grappling with the stress of workplace conflicts. Distributed by PBS Distribution. A part of the series This Emotional Life. (114 minutes)

Episode 2: Facing Our Fears (This Emotional Life)

PBS

What is the evolutionary advantage of negative emotions? And how can these emotions best be managed in daily life? This program investigates the strong feelings commonly regarded as obstacles to happiness—anger, fear, anxiety, and despair—to explain why they sometimes overwhelm the rational part of the brain. Among the cases profiled are a woman whose out-of-control temper jeopardizes her relationships; a teen struggling to overcome clinical depression; a college student whose fear of flying limits her life; and veterans seeking an effective treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. Distributed by PBS Distribution. A part of the series This Emotional Life. (114 minutes)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Ebix Inc.

ADHD is a problem with inattentiveness, over-activity, impulsivity, or a combination. For these problems to be diagnosed as ADHD, they must be out of the normal range for a child’s age and development.

Recovering: Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa

VISUALZ

Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are serious medical conditions that can be deadly if left untreated, and they afflict people of all ages and races, especially young women. This video follows Peabody- and Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker Larkin McPhee (Dying to Be Thin) as she uncovers facts about eating disorders and the many challenges of coping with them. Viewers meet health and psychology experts as well as patients in recovery who offer honest appraisals of their struggles to overcome debilitating eating disorders. Topics and themes include: Who is at risk? What causes and perpetuates an eating disorder? Why are eating disorders dangerous? How are they treated? A viewable/printable worksheet is available online. (30 minutes)

The Future of Our Body 2: The Future Of… (Series 2)

Parthenon Entertainment

Real or imagined, we all see physical defects in ourselves. This film shows how scientists work to correct these flaws, including virtual therapy for people with eating disorders. The Future Of… (Series 2). (25 minutes)

Faceless: Inside a Psychiatric Ward

Journeyman Pictures

Since Maria was found dancing on a line of train tracks, it’s a good bet that confinement in a mental ward saved her life. Still, she says, she prefers freedom to the “freedumb” of the medicated world she now resides in. Many of her fellow patients are equally ambivalent about being institutionalized. One admits that his fear of being irradiated by electrical outlets may be due to the faulty wiring in his own mind. Another actually longs for more electrical shock treatments since they bring a sensation of “complete peace.” And then there’s the man who’s discharged even though he’s still hearing voices—they’re not telling him to kill himself today, so what’s the harm of reentering society? Following Maria through this claustrophobic landscape of uncertainty and anguish, viewers are allowed to explore the darkest catacombs of the psyche as well as the ever-present human tendency to search for a way out. (52 minutes)

Moyers & Company: Issues of Art and Heart

Doctoroff Media Group

In this edition of Moyers & Company, Bill is joined by poet and former publishing executive James Autry to talk about issues of art and heart. He shares six poignant poems—“On Firing a Salesman,” “Disconnected,” “Reminiscence at Toul,” “New Birth for Sally, Spring 1984,” “Patience,” and “A Sentimental Poem”—and discusses his and his wife’s challenging yet inspiring experience raising a child with autism. Broadcast date: December 14, 2012. (33 minutes)

California Program Stresses Early Detection, Treatment of Mental Illness

NewsHour Productions

PBS NewsHour correspondent Spencer Michels reports on a California organization working to identify mental illness in young people before their problems become worse. Original broadcast date: February 09, 2011

Autism Now: Robert MacNeil Shares Grandson Nick's Story

NewsHour Productions

In the first of six reports in his "Autism Now" series, former PBS NewsHour anchor Robert MacNeil takes viewers on a visit with his 6-year-old grandson, Nick, to see how autism affects the whole family. Nick experiences autism not just as a brain-development disorder, but also as physical ailments affecting his whole body. Original broadcast date: April 18, 2011. (15 minutes)

Autism Now: Exploring the 'Phenomenal' Increase in U.S. Prevalence

NewsHour Productions

In the second report in his 6-part "Autism Now" series, Robert MacNeil investigates why the number of children with autism is increasing in the U.S. He meets children at different points on the autism spectrum and gets several views on the increase in prevalence--from better diagnosis to a variety of environmental factors. Original broadcast date: April 19, 2011

Autism Now: How Close Are We to Solving the Puzzle?

NewsHour Productions

The rise in the number of reported autism cases has caused a surge in research to find the causes. For the latest thinking, Robert MacNeil speaks with four leading researchers about the issue. It's episode three of his 6-part "Autism Now" series of reports. Original broadcast date: April 20, 2011

Autism Now: Demand for Educational Resources for Children Outstrips Supply

NewsHour Productions

For public school systems, the demand for special educational and treatment resources for children with autism often outpaces what is available. In the fourth report in his 6-part "Autism Now" series, Robert MacNeil looks at how two schools in the New York City area handle teaching children and teens with autism. Original broadcast date: April 21, 2011

Autism Now: For Adults With Autism, Few Support Options Past Age 21

NewsHour Productions

Although federal law mandates educational services for children with autism, there are virtually no support services provided once they become adults. In the fifth report of his 6-part "Autism Now" series, Robert MacNeil profiles a young man in New Jersey -- and his family -- as they face an uncertain future for him. Original broadcast date: April 22, 2011

Out of Mind, Out of Sight (Feature-Length version)

National Film Board of Canada

What happens to people who suffer from mental illnesses and commit violent crimes? Where do they go? How are they treated? Little is known about the facilities—once called asylums for the criminally insane—to which some of these patients are sent. Now known as forensic psychiatric hospitals, these are institutions inside which patients disappear, away from public view for years. Four-time Emmy winner John Kastner has been granted unprecedented access to one such hospital: the Brockville Mental Health Centre. He filmed inside this facility for 18 months, allowing 46 patients and 75 staff to share their experiences with stunning frankness. The result is two remarkable documentaries. The first, NCR: Not Criminally Responsible(Item #58175), premiered at Hot Docs in the spring of 2013 and follows the story of a violent patient released into the community, much to the alarm of his victim and her family. Kastner’s film returns to the Brockville Mental Health Centre to follow treatment processes normally hidden from the public, profiling four patients—two men and two women—as they struggle to gain control over their lives, so they can return to a society that often fears and demonizes them.

Two Iraq Vets’ Journey to Find Peace

Nightline

During this segment of "Nightline", two soldiers, battling different wounds of war, reunite years after one saved the other’s life. (10 minutes)

Music: Dara O'Briain's Science Club (Series 1)

BBC Worldwide Learning

Combining in-depth studio discussion with exploratory films and on-the-spot reports, Dara O Briain's Science Club takes a single subject each week and examines it from unexpected angles. In the final episode, special guest James May explores how music is inextricably linked to our emotions; materials scientist Mark Miodownik takes apart an electric guitar; neuroscientist Tali Sharot reports on ground breaking research treating Parkinson's disease with rhythm; and science journalist Alok Jha asks whether computers are ruining music. (50 minutes)

Breaking the Wall of Psychiatric Hospitals: How Video Games Can Improve Brain Functioning and Treat Mental Illnesses

Falling Walls Foundation

“Do you suffer from schizophrenia? Do you hear distressing voices? There’s an app for that.” The claim of the latest “web-tutor” might sound like a scam, but it actually introduces us to an entirely new approach in treating mental illnesses. While the causes of schizophrenia depend on a still obscure combination of genetic, environmental and developmental factors, a big step towards curing its symptoms has recently been accomplished by a research team at the University of California, San Francisco, led by NARSAD Independent Investigator Grantee Sophia Vinogradov. The symptoms of schizophrenia, beyond delusions and hallucinations, include a range of cognitive and social deficits which affect memory, decision-making, attention, and social cognition. These problems are not helped by current antipsychotic drugs, and psychotherapeutic measures are only of limited benefit. For the past 10 years, Sophia Vinogradov has focused on the design, implementation, and evaluation of neuroscience-informed computerized exercises to improve these undervalued symptoms – with life-changing implications for patients. As a 2012 study was able to demonstrate that “a serious behavioral deficit in schizophrenia, and its underlying neural dysfunction, can be improved by well-designed computer cognitive training, resulting in a better quality of life.”

Treating Insomnia: The Importance of Getting a Good Night's Sleep

Information Television Network (ITN)

Most of us have had trouble getting to sleep once in a while, but for some people that “once in a while” is every night. They have insomnia, a common condition for which there are many types of treatment. Before sufferers can be effectively treated, however, they must bring their condition to the attention of a medical professional. This program educates viewers on how insomnia can make people gain weight, increase their risk for serious conditions like cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and negatively affect their relationships and overall quality of life. Experts believe that in most cases insomnia can be managed effectively. Internationally known sleep specialists—and patients whose lives have improved dramatically because they are now sleeping well—contribute to the program. (27 minutes)

Marijuana Madness

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Marijuana is one of our most commonly used and least stigmatized drugs. While often considered less harmful that other drugs, new research presented in this video clip shows that smoking pot increases the risk of developing a psychotic illness by 40%. While the risk to an individual is still low, with so many people using cannabis, the impact overall is substantial.

He's Not Our Craig: Coma

BBC Worldwide Learning

This episode focuses on Craig, who was 17 when a car hit him as he crossed a road late at night. He suffered a massive head injury and was in a deep coma for three weeks. When he awoke, it became clear that the brain damage had left him with a completely different personality. Five years after his accident, the new Craig is an angry young man. He has no control over his emotions, and his violent mood swings are wrecking his and his family’s lives. He has a baby daughter whom he is not allowed to see and a home full of his latest obsession: reptiles. A BBC Production. (49 minutes)

Playing with Madness

BBC Worldwide Learning

In this classic program, Horizon discovers a surprising side effect of mental illness. Many manic-depressives are creative, and medical science has concluded that mental disorders and creativity may indeed be related. In fact, the relationship between the two has been known for many years. For example, the great artist Vincent van Gogh was a highly creative individual who suffered from a serious mental disorder. Experts believe that because manic depression involves periods of elevated mood, this could encourage creative endeavors. But the questions remain: Does this creativity exist in spite of the illness or because of it? And could it be that the illness becomes necessary to the creative achievements of these individuals? A BBC Production. (49 minutes)

Beer Is Cheaper Than Therapy: Fort Hood's PTSD Problem

First Hand Films

Suicide rates are rising steadily at the Fort Hood military post, thousands of soldiers are on psychiatric medications, and mental health services there are reeling from a caseload of nearly 4,000 patients per month. Across the nation, young troops who became psychologically overwhelmed while fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan and were told by dismissive commanders that “beer is cheaper than therapy” are returning stateside to cope with severe psychological trauma on their own. This program goes to Killeen, Texas, home of the Fort Hood military post, to interview Iraq war veterans and their families about the devastating repercussions of their deployment—including alcoholism and domestic abuse due to post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD—and the failure of military brass to take this problem seriously. (57 minutes)

Preventing Eating Disorders: Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds for Youth Aged 12–17

Hazelden Foundation

An alarming number of teens today—both girls and boys—feel dissatisfied with their body to the point of engaging in unhealthy eating behaviors that can be life-threatening. From trying fad diets to binge eating to suffering from bulimia or anorexia nervosa, disordered eating behaviors affect not only physical health, but emotional and mental health as well. It also negatively affects family, friends, and supporters of these teens. This video teaches teens about balanced eating and how the body, especially at their age, is negatively affected by dieting. It also exposes media-glorified body images as unrealistic and dangerous, and addresses the dangers of stereotypes. Produced by Hazelden. Part of the series Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds for Youth Aged 12–17. (9 minutes)

Adults and Co-occurring Disorders

Hazelden Foundation

This video helps individuals gain insight into maintaining recovery while dealing with dual disorders. Features clinical insights by noted expert Kenneth Minkoff. Produced by Hazelden. (29 minutes)

Sleep and the College Student

Dartmouth College

Produced by the Academic Skills Center at Dartmouth College, this concise video helps students realize the importance of sleep in staying healthy, alert, and involved. It also offers practical perspectives on structuring activities and budgeting time so that sleep can be fully integrated into college life. Dr. Michael J. Sateia, a Dartmouth professor of psychiatry and a pioneer in the field of sleep medicine, explains that sleep influences both short-term and long-term memory processing, making it crucial to the "procedural learning" of academic and athletic success. Meanwhile, Dartmouth faculty and student body members offer their personal and professional testimonials on the value of restful sleep. (12 minutes)

The Brain and Violence: Secrets of Your Mind

Nightline

Are some people predisposed to violence? Is there a region of the human brain that can be linked to evil? What is it like inside the mind of a psychopath? This ABC News program explores these questions as it follows cutting-edge work in psychology and neuroscience. Viewers visit death row for a close-up look at Tommy Lynn Sells and Joel Rifkin, two notorious case studies in psychopathology, and meet the distraught father of Chris Benoit, the pro-wrestler who murdered his family and then killed himself. Doctors describe how they believe Benoit had suffered extensive brain damage in the ring that drove him to murder—and how the same kind of impairment has also been found in football players who met tragic ends, after years of concussions and subconcussive injuries on the field. A part of the series Secrets of Your Mind: Why We Do What We Do. (39 minutes)

Conquering Communication Anxiety: Successful Speaking (2010 Revision)

Educational Video Group

This video presents an effective how-to approach to overcoming stage fright. Topics include the causes of anxiety, the physical symptoms, the seven behavioral steps, and three cognitive approaches. Lecture-launching, discussion-provoking, and ideal for in-class showing. (24 minutes)

Grounds for Resistance: Stories of War, Sacrifice, and Good Coffee

Lisa Gilman

Joint Base Lewis-McChord is a major U.S. military facility located nine miles south of Tacoma, Washington. Within walking distance of the base sits Coffee Strong, a nonprofit café established in 2008 by young veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. At Coffee Strong, soldiers, veterans, and members of military families have a venue in which to openly discuss politics, combat experiences, and the impact of war. The café also provides counseling services and other resources for those struggling with combat stress, military sexual trauma, difficulties with veteran benefits, or legal challenges. This documentary profiles the veterans who run Coffee Strong, exploring their decisions to join the military, their memories of deployment, their relationships with one another, and how their efforts to make a more peaceful and just world overlap with their own experiences of war. Contains profanity. (50 minutes)

In Two Minds: Is Mental Illness Really an Illness?—Madness

BBC Worldwide Learning

The anti-psychiatry movement of the 1960s held that identifying people as mentally ill was a convenient way to control segments of the population considered to be socially undesirable. Two centuries earlier, Enlightenment philosophers reasoned that if insanity could be traced to physiological defects, it might then be assumed that human beings are no more than somatically driven automatons without free will. This program examines these and other notions about labeling mental illness, and also looks at research that suggests a neurological basis for schizophrenia. With Kate Millett, R. D. Laing, and Michel Foucault. Contains incidental clinical nudity. A BBC Production. Part of the series Madness. (59 minutes)

Understanding Postnatal Depression

ClickView Pty Limited

New parents may go through a variety of mood changes after the birth of a child without necessarily experiencing postpartum depression. This program helps to identify postpartum depression, detailing its symptoms and explaining how it differs from other difficult emotions. Featuring an in-depth case study and commentary from mothers who have had the condition, a psychiatrist, and other experts, the video explores contributing factors and available treatments while dispelling myths and misconceptions. A viewable/printable worksheet is available online. (22 minutes)

Venturing Out: Agoraphobics Confront Their Fears

Digital Rights Group Limited

When renowned psychologist Paul Salkovskis offers three agoraphobics a base from which to battle their fears, each sufferer embraces the opportunity to utilize the professor's "safe house." There's only one problem-getting there. This program illustrates the paralyzing anxiety agoraphobics typically experience when stepping outside their cloistered comfort zones. After Simon, Su, and Archana finally arrive at the house, Professor Salkovskis forces each to keep going outdoors to unearth the roots of his or her affliction. Su realizes that loud noises trigger her panic attacks, while Archana recognizes her own abandonment issues and Simon discovers how much he depends on the opinion of others. Contains some profanity. (48 minutes)

Marijuana

Cambridge Educational

Marijuana has the distinction of being the most widely used illicit drug in the United States. This video traces the history of marijuana and goes on to explain some of the many uses of the hemp plant; the effects of THC—the primary psychoactive chemical in marijuana, sinsemilla, hashish, and hash oil—on the body; the short- and long-term health implications of marijuana abuse; and teenage attitudes toward marijuana. In addition, the video investigates the concept of psychological dependency and considers whether marijuana is a gateway drug. A viewable/printable instructor’s guides is available online. A Cambridge Educational Production. (19 minutes)

Sleepwalking (Parasomnia)

National Geographic

Some people wander, get dressed, even eat in their sleep. Others lash out in violent ways. Is it possible that people can commit complex crimes—even murder—while walking in their sleep? With only a dead victim and a seemingly disoriented suspect at the scene of the crime, it’s hard to know for sure. This program explores the question, following extensive sleep tests performed on accused murderers in a quest for truth and scientific clarity. But even if science bolsters the sleepwalking defense, could it actually work in a courtroom? More frighteningly, could sleepwalking become a legitimized pretense for murder? A National Geographic Production. (52 minutes)

Minds on the Edge: Facing Mental Illness—A Fred Friendly Seminar

Fred Friendly Seminars

America’s frenzied debate over government health insurance has eclipsed another, no less challenging, national health care crisis—the plight of people with serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. This Fred Friendly Seminar sheds light on barriers to treatment, ethical and legal dilemmas, and fragmented social policies that are creating a nightmare for families, filling America’s jails, and wasting scarce resources. Led by veteran broadcast journalist Frank Sesno, the program features hypothetical scenarios that challenge prominent mental health professionals, policymakers, and legal luminaries to confront the situations and stigma facing Americans with mental illness. Panelists include U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, Nobel-winning neuroscientist Eric R. Kandel, Pennsylvania Secretary of Public Welfare Estelle B. Richman, and many others. A viewable/printable discussion guide is available online. (56 minutes)

Living with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Multimedia Group of Canada

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is characterized by developmentally inappropriate impulsivity, inattentiveness, and, in some cases, hyperactivity. In this program, therapists, teachers, parents, and patients offer their insights into living with and overcoming AD/HD. The benefits of a treatment approach combining ongoing psychological assessment, specialized classes, and carefully monitored use of Ritalin or similar medications are cited. In addition, the brain biochemistry of people with AD/HD is discussed, and anomalous brain development before birth is identified as a likely cause of the disorder. (53 minutes)

Stress Management

Cambridge Educational

Poor stress management, stemming from factors such as impending deadlines, work overload, and procrastination, can lead directly to burnout, one of the top reasons for quitting a job. This video identifies workplace stressors and offers guidelines for reducing their impact to a safe level. Proven principles of stress management, including proper nutrition, adequate rest, and nonwork-related pastimes, are emphasized as keys to good health and better overall job performance. A Cambridge Educational Production. (20 minutes)

Eating Disorders: The Inner Voice

Cambridge Educational

Eating disorders are not about the desire to be thin. Eating disorders are severe psychological illnesses that usually take years to overcome and can be accompanied by devastating and sometimes deadly physical side effects. In this powerful program, four young women and men from a variety of ethnic backgrounds share their stories of the physical pain and emotional torment caused by eating disorders. Medical, psychological, and nutritional experts explain the types of eating disorders, their causes, and who is most at risk, as well as treatment options. A Cambridge Educational Production. (30 minutes)

Childhood Depression

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

Four to eight percent of American children experience bouts of major depression. Among teenage girls, that rate can be as high as sixteen percent. This program from The Doctor Is In emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and treatment to avoid potential patterns of repeated depression later in life-and to prevent substance abuse and suicide. Children suffering from depression talk about how they cope with it, while child psychiatrist David G. Fassler, author of Help Me, I'm Sad, and Steven Atkins, a psychologist at Dartmouth Medical School, provide authoritative insights. A Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Production. (29 minutes)

Women and Depression

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

Clinical depression affects 19 million Americans, of whom two-thirds are women. This program from The Doctor Is In addresses the good news about depression: it is a diagnosable and treatable illness. Valerie Davis Raskin, a therapist and research psychiatrist whose practice is solely dedicated to women, and Ardis Olsen, a physician and researcher at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, are joined by patients and their families to explain the symptoms, effects, and treatment of depression. A Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Production. (29 minutes)

When Food Is the Enemy: Eating Disorders

Meridian Education

Ranging from the starvation diet of the anorexic to certain forms of obesity, eating disorders are a diverse group of health problems. This program examines the emotional issues that lie behind most eating disorders, the serious and sometimes life-threatening consequences of eating disorders, and methods of treatment. Experts and patients alike offer their insights. A Meridian Production. (25 minutes)

Depression: Beating the Blues

Information Television Network (ITN)

According to the World Health Organization, depression is the number one cause of disability in the U.S. today, with an economic cost exceeding $44 billion. What are the symptoms? How do biological, genetic, and psychosocial factors affect mood-regulating neurotransmitters? And are women at special risk? In this program, Martin Keller, of the Brown University School of Medicine, and other experts answer questions about the pathology of depressive disorders and current treatment options such as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, psychotherapy, and electroconvulsive therapy. (23 minutes)

Schizophrenia and Delusional Disorders

University of Sheffield Learning Media Unit

Schizophrenia, acute and transient psychoses, persistent delusional disorders, and schizoaffective disorders are examined in this program, which was filmed in the U.K. Their principal abnormalities are divided into the following psychiatric phenomena: disordered thinking, delusions, hallucinations, and abnormal behavior. Specific symptoms of each disorder are discussed. Particular symptoms to look for in patient interviews are provided, along with criteria for diagnosing each disorder. (46 minutes)

Eating Disorders: Mind, Body, and Society

ClickView Pty Limited

Anorexia. Bulimia. Eating disorders have one of the highest mortality rates of all psychiatric conditions. After defining eating disorders from a clinical point of view, this three-section program explores possible underlying biological bases for eating disorders; considers sociocultural influences on young adults that equate “thin” with “good”; and questions to what extent eating disorders may originate within the family structure. The program concludes with a look at treatments of eating disorders. A part of the series Applied Psychology. (28 minutes)

Case Studies in Childhood Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

ABC News

Bridget, 15, cannot go near her own parents because she fears they are somehow “contaminated.” Rocco, 9, dissolves into tears whenever he tries to leave for school—consumed by anxiety over what could happen once he steps outside. Michelle, 13, spends hours in the shower. These children, along with about one million others, have OCD. This edition of Primetime tracks the treatment of Bridget, Rocco, and Michelle as they attempt to reclaim their lives and overcome the stigma associated with the disorder. Can they subdue a condition that consumes their every waking moment and utterly disrupts their families? Original ABC News broadcast title: Kids Battle Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. (38 minutes)

Psychotherapy Has Done More Harm than Good: A Debate

Intelligence2 Ltd.

As many Britons see it, the U.K. has become a nation obsessed with its psychological state, endlessly seeking out new "cures" for every hang-up under the sun. Others, by contrast, argue that the therapy culture has made the U.K. emotionally literate, giving the English a language through which to express their feelings and to change themselves for the better. In the final analysis, has psychotherapy done more harm than good? That is the question in this Oxford Union-style debate as panelists make their case. Speakers for the motion reference the baneful societal effects of pop psychology and stubborn prejudices in the field of psychotherapy, while those against point out that controlled psychotherapy trials have repeatedly shown beneficial results from certain treatments and that such therapy offers a useful non-pharmaceutical approach to mental illness treatment. Questions from the floor follow. The final vote? Significantly against. BBC Radio 4's Mariella Frostrup presides. (82 minutes)

10 Things You Should Know about Sleep

BBC Worldwide Learning

Even though many experts recommend eight hours of sleep a night, getting that much rest often seems impossible. This program offers ten scientific ways to get quality sleep, and more of it. These techniques include sleep restriction programs for people with insomnia, explained by Professor Colin Espie of the University of Glasgow's Sleep Centre; fasting to beat jet lag, presented by Harvard's Dr. Patrick Fuller; and simple, full-body relaxation techniques, demonstrated by physiotherapist Sammy Margo. Features celebrities such as comedian Russell Kane, world-record-setting yachtswoman Dee Caffari, and British TV presenter Kate Silverton. A BBC Production. (50 minutes)

A Summer in the Cage: An Inside Look at Bipolar Disorder

Summer in the Cage, LLC

This unique collaboration between a filmmaker and the subject of his work captures a personal battle with bipolar disorder while addressing the filmmaker’s role in documenting mental illness. At his friend Sam’s request, Ben Selkow turned the lens on Sam when Sam’s disturbing behavior led to a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Sam speaks candidly about living with the disease and describes its phases as he experiences them on camera. As Sam’s story unfolds, Selkow is forced to consider the ethical responsibilities of a documentary filmmaker witnessing his subject’s distress. The program includes illuminating commentary from Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison. Contains harsh language. (81 minutes)

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Anxiety Disorders—Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Cinema House Films Inc.

Hand-washing, counting, checking over and over whether the door has been locked…when these behaviors dominate someone’s life that person may be diagnosed with OCD—a disorder that was once considered rare but that now accounts for nearly 6 percent of national mental health costs. This program explains the DSM-IV-TR definition of an obsessive-compulsive disorder, listing the components of obsession and the characteristics of the rituals used to manage anxiety about those obsessions. Through reenactments of patient-therapist consultations, the video also provides an insider’s look at OCD and explores some of the treatments used to manage it. Part of the series Anxiety Disorders. (22 minutes)

Salina and Troy (Intervention)

A&E

Riveting real-life television, Intervention explores the lives of people dependent on drugs, alcohol, or other destructive behaviors and the people who intervene to save them. Salina exhibits a range of addictive behaviors, including severe bulimia, obsessive shopping, and self-mutilation. This episode of Intervention also discusses the case of Troy, who had a promising future in Los Angeles until he began to use crystal methamphetamine. Now homeless and unemployed, his addiction has led to both injecting and selling crystal meth. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (45 minutes)

Dawn and Fabian (Intervention)

A&E

Riveting real-life television, Intervention explores the lives of people dependent on drugs, alcohol, or other destructive behaviors and the people who intervene to save them. Thirty-seven-year-old Fabian was once a successful entertainment entrepreneur who lost everything because of his escalating addiction. Dawn, 49, is a meth addict who lives on the street. She has symptoms of psychosis from the drug and often hallucinates. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (45 minutes)

Into the Mind: Emotions

BBC Worldwide Learning

Where do emotions come from, and why do we experience them? Is there a connection between reason and emotion? In this program, host Michael Mosley uses vintage footage and his own willingness to be a test subject to review classic and sometimes disturbing experiments on the nature of fear, love, and empathy. The discussion includes John B. Watson’s tests on 9-month-old “Little Albert,” in which the infant was conditioned to feel fear; António Damásio’s findings on gambling, logic, and decision making; and the work that Harry Harlow did with monkeys and their surrogate mothers that helped change thinking about the value of cuddling a newborn baby. A BBC Production. A part of the series Into the Mind. (49 minutes)

Haywire: Children Living with Schizophrenia

ABC News

This ABC News program goes inside the homes of children living with severe mental illness, sharing the stories of three young girls whose schizophrenia commands them to harm themselves—or their younger siblings. Their parents’ video diaries document the challenges, breakdowns, and frustrations that occur as they seek help for their children and relief for the rest of the family. Brutally honest and emotionally charged, Haywire sheds light on a disorder that is often misdiagnosed and misunderstood. (41 minutes)

The Good Soldier

Journeyman Pictures

“War is about one thing only: it’s about killing. You either learn to kill somebody else or you get killed or wounded yourself.” This film examines how soldiers grapple simultaneously with their duty and their own humanity as it tracks the perilous psychological journeys of four decorated combat veterans of World War II, the Vietnam War, and the Iraq War. A combination of frank interviews and battlefield footage, The Good Soldier addresses the initial reluctance to kill, the act of killing from a distance and hand-to-hand, incidents of combat zone atrocities, the experience of getting wounded, mixed feelings of relief and alienation upon returning stateside, post-tour substance abuse and mental trauma, efforts at closure, and involvement with veterans-for-peace movements. A sobering statement both about and against war. Contains graphic military-related violence and instances of harsh language. (54 minutes)

Stress: Portrait of a Killer

National Geographic

Over the last three decades, science has been advancing the understanding of stress—how it impacts the human body and how social standing can make a person more or less susceptible. Through studies of baboons on the plains of Africa and research in the neuroscience labs of Stanford University, scientists are discovering just how lethal stress can be. Understanding how stress works can help people figure out ways to combat it and how to live a life free of the tyranny of this contemporary plague. As Stress: Portrait of a Killer shows, stress is not just a state of mind; it’s something measurable and dangerous. A National Geographic Production. (56 minutes)