MHA’s CWO and Strong Collaborate at Reel Mind Film Festival

~ Evelyn Cammarano

I had two great experiences at the Reel Mind Film Festival at the JCC last week. One was my experience being on a panel after the showing of scheduled documentaries and it was amazing. I felt sick before I went up on stage with butterflies in my stomach… but as soon as I got up there and saw the audience, I felt really comfortable having a captive audience hanging on my every word!

The second experience was having a piece of my art work displayed with others from Creative Wellness Opportunities annual art show in the foyer of the JCC as part of a collaboration with Reel Mind and the Mental Health Association. A number of the CWO paintings sold to the audience that night. An Artist-in-Residence from Strong, Charmaine Wheatley, was also part of the four member panel. Charmaine has been drawing portraits of peers at Creative Wellness Opportunities, and elsewhere in the community, as part of a concentrated effort to break the stigma of mental illness by the telling of our stories. She was featured in a six minute movie documenting her process at work with peer volunteer models and integrating snippets of peer testimonials (which also included my own testimony). It was all very impressive.

The audience asked each panelist questions. I found that I could articulate my thoughts and experiences and truths very easily. I surprised myself. At one point, I received cheers and applause for something I stated:“We are all strong and taking responsibility for our issues and growing from them.” My feeling is that some people out there who call themselves ‘normal’ are sometimes in denial about their issues and avoid acknowledging them and taking responsibility for adapting. We are all so much stronger and courageous for accepting our issues and weaknesses and taking the time and responsibility to change and become healthier.

Another person from the audience asked about feeling “less than” and having “flaws” and being “broken”. I remembered from a Facebook post of a bowl that had broken, and how the Japanese value “flaws” as unique expressions and put the bowls back together with gold. As a result, the bowls become even more valued and beautiful. This is our metaphor. This is what we do. We are not broken or flawed. We are gluing ourselves together and becoming our unique and true selves. An illness can be an opportunity to increase our awareness of who we are. I am grateful to have such an ability. I am a better, healthier individual as a result of how I am learning from my past experiences. It is my choice to accept, adapt, become responsible, aware, happy, joyful, and to be a role model and mentor for my friends and peers. This recent experience has allowed me to realize that I am a leader. All my efforts have finally gelled and come together, and it is awesome to realize!