Mental Health & the Actor’s Life

'Breaking the Stigma', a student-made short documentary, presents the thoughts and opinions of several students and parents about the youth mental health crisis in the United States – and what it means for future generations that will enter an increasingly technologically-dependent society.

In the aftermath of war, an extraordinary professor brings hope to children haunted by trauma-induced nightmares.

Little Mix star Jesy Nelson goes on a journey of rehabilitation as she opens up about abuse she has suffered at the hands of cyberbullies and its effects on her mental health.

Four-time Emmy winner John Kastner was granted unprecedented access to the Brockville 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, premiered at Hot Docs in the spring of 2013 and follows the story of a violent patient released into the community. The second film, Out of Mind, Out of Sight, returns to the Brockville Mental Health Centre to profile 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.

Growing Humanity follows six resilient women farmers in the Western U.S., as they navigate gender discrimination, balancing life’s routines, and the challenges of small-scale farming, shedding light on their pivotal role in transforming agriculture and reconnecting communities to the source of their food.

Seeking solace in the early hours of the morning, young men across Bristol gather in gyms to train every night. Alone or with friends, these individuals combat their everyday struggles through exercise, adopting the philosophy that mental strength comes from a foundation of physical strength. But what are the struggles that led them all to the gym in the first place? We set out to interview these individuals and listen to their tales of heartbreak and loss that drove them to adopt this nocturnal lifestyle. With one suicide every 90 minutes in the UK and 75% of these being male, we hope this documentary can help those struggling with their mental health to realise that they are not alone. These men share not just their struggles but advice on how to overcome tough times in the hopes that their words can save the next guy.

The Bridge is a controversial documentary that shows people jumping to their death from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco - the world's most popular suicide destination. Interviews with the victims' loved ones describe their lives and mental health.

Using poetry, interviews with psychologists and survivors, and corporeal imagery, Broca is an experimental documentary hybrid that explores how the mind-body connection is altered after trauma. The Broca’s Area in the brain is involved primarily in speech production. During a traumatic event or when trying to recall a traumatic event, this area shuts down. This makes it harder for a survivor to talk about what’s happened. Our project is an experimental documentary hybrid that offers a platform for survivors to tell their stories both verbally and non-verbally.

El dolor invisible

Considered one of the most influential action sports athletes in the world, Jess Kimura was at the top of her game when tragedy struck. As everything came crashing down, her grief led her down a path she could have never imagined.

On June 13, 1978, the punk bands the Cramps and the Mutants played a free show for psychiatric patients at the Napa State Hospital in California. We Were There to Be There chronicles the people, politics, and cultural currents that led to the show and its live recording.

Judged and defined by the system. Kenni, Sabrina, Sebastian, Cille, and Niklas break free from others' words and take ownership of their own life stories.

Chameleons

Four peoples’ lives are brought together by the opioid crisis in a small Georgia city. A seasoned firefighter saves the life of a young woman looking for purpose, while grieving parents fight to provide the support their son struggled to find.

ZAAD tells the autobiographical story of Dries Meddens. After the death of his mother, the care for Dries' bipolar father falls on his plate. He discovers how crudely and ruthlessly society and psychiatry treat patients. His father eventually dies in solitary confinement. While emptying his parent’s home, Dries discovers an old letter from his grandfather. The man appears to have led a busy, productive life. He is the founder of an internationally renowned seed breeding company and still has time to paint, write diaries and conduct intensive correspondence. Dries finds similarities between his grandfather, his father and himself. Slowly the fear grows that his father's psychiatric illness might be hereditary. Strolling through the family’s film and photo archives, with dramatic and sometimes hilarious finds, Dries tries to find answers. He also consults a psychiatrist. Together the consultations and reviewing of his archival material help Dries look at bipolarity with new eyes.

It’s the second semester of junior year for Pierce “Sparni” Sparnroft, a gifted jazz vibraphonist studying at Montclair State University in New Jersey. Sparni’s prospects on the vibes were rejuvenated by their new professor, the world-renowned Steve Nelson, and are to be showcased during a student-driven recital in May 2023. But all the while, Sparni must face a crisis within.

Women's college basketball player Chamique Holdsclaw battles mental illness.

Follows the story of Freddie Stevenson from his meteoric rise through high school and college football to a chaotic life afterwards that led him to reinvent himself and rise up all over again. This documentary connects similar stories of struggle and redemption from motivational speaker Tony Gaskins, "General Hospital" star Maurice Benard, NFL and CFL player Delvin Breaux, and more. These stories are raw and uncut, just as they want to to tell them.

The Mirror Room is a 38-minute hybrid AI + human film by Malaysian artist Armen Jay. Part monologue, part memory ritual, this cinematic experience blends original music, archetypal AI voices, and real-life recovery to explore grief, rebirth, and identity. Premiered at Sunway University in October 2025, now available for stream + download worldwide.

The lives of Jeff, Lauren and Lloyd—three very different people who share one common experience—have been transformed by speaking up for mental health. These inspiring stories depict what mental health in America really looks like and highlights just how important it is to speak up and seek help.