Mental illness is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. An estimated 26 percent of Americans suffer from a mental disorder in a given year and about 6 percent suffer from a serious mental illness.  According to the U.S. Surgeon Generals Report on Mental Health, almost two-thirds of people with diagnosed mental illness do not seek treatment because of the stigma associated with mental illness. This project aims to document the inpatient experience on a psychiatric unit in North Carolina from a patient’s perspective. The goal of this project is to raise awareness of the challenges faced by mentally ill patients in the hospital, but also to gain a more thorough understanding of the person behind the patient.
– Dr. Stephanie Collier

To view Dr. Collier’s comments about why she produced this piece and what she learned, visit: https://vimeo.com/68982404