NEW MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY STORIES
ECT and Me
Evelyn Sachs won’t stand for electroconvulsive therapy being just another cheap “Cuckoo’s Nest” reference; it has helped with her bipolar depression.
A New Book Returns Us to Our Town
A new book about many different productions of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town features a production by mental health workers.
Jaleel King | Beyond the Bullet: Gunshot Violence Survivors Speak
by Glenn Holsten
What Story Will You Tell?
Every time we sit down to write, we sit down to tell a story. In these writing retreats, we will explore different ways of deciding what story to tell, and how to tell it. Each retreat works as a standalone, and if you join us for all four, you will find that there are threads that weave them all together.
February 20, 2021
May 15, 2021
August 21, 2021
November 20, 2021
What Story Will You Tell?
Every time we sit down to write, we sit down to tell a story. In these writing retreats, we will explore different ways of deciding what story to tell, and how to tell it. Each retreat works as a standalone, and if you join us for all four, you will find that there are threads that weave them all together.
February 20, 2021
May 15, 2021
August 21, 2021
November 20, 2021
MORE MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY STORIES
When Disabled Womanhood Means Shrinking: How Diet Culture Affects the Bodies and Minds of Disabled Women
In middle school, Erica began to notice her weight and developed disordered thinking about her body in an attempt to control it. Through recovery, Erica learned that her need to control her body was in part to make her disability less noticeable to others.
This is Recovery: The Recurrent and Everlasting Journey Through Depression
Josh Forner has been in recovery from depression his entire life, and likely will continue to be. The process is not a straight line, but rather one that curves up and down, and sometimes circles back on itself.
If He Gets It: Teaching My Son How to Handle Depression
Christopher Dale once received mentorship on how to deal with depression from a man who knew the disease well. Now he’s learning to do the same for his son.
The Biggest Storm of My Life: My Precarious Journey with Anxiety and Depression
by Listen to Editor in Chief Gabriel Nathan read this story: I’ve often struggled to stay afloat on the choppy seas of life. Small waves have peaked behind my back, and in a flash,...
A Father’s Mental Health Recovery Journey: Beyond The Bullet
Jalil Frazier was shot trying to prevent a robbery. He is a member of a support group for gunshot violence survivors who speaks about his journey.
A Fractured Journey: Feeling the Throes of Bipolar Disorder Before Diagnosis
Jason Schreurs zig-zags through different moments in his life, finding both clarity and confusion throughout. It all coalesces with one surprise diagnosis.
Mental Health & Hope For The Future
The COVID-19 pandemic is creating a world that will be forever changed and that is ever-challenging.
We at OC87 Recovery Diaries are wholeheartedly committed to providing you with personal stories and films related to the pandemic that may help provide you with inspiration and hope during this extremely difficult time.
Please feel free to share any of this content with friends or family who may need an extra dose of mental health, empowerment, and change.
Mental Health & Hope For The Future
The COVID-19 pandemic is creating a world that will be forever changed and that is ever-challenging.
We at OC87 Recovery Diaries are wholeheartedly committed to providing you with personal stories and films related to the pandemic that may help provide you with inspiration and hope during this extremely difficult time.
Please feel free to share any of this content with friends or family who may need an extra dose of mental health, empowerment, and change.
ORIGINAL MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY FILMS
Jaleel King | Beyond the Bullet: Gunshot Violence Survivors Speak
Jaleel King is a photographer and member of a support group for gunshot violence survivors who speaks about his journey.
Depression and Gunshot Violence: Beyond the Bullet Survivors Speak
Charles Horton is a disability rights activist and member of a support group for gunshot violence survivors who speaks about his journey.
Is This the Face of a Hero? Life as an ER Doctor in the Time of COVID
Dr. Erica Harris wrestles with the term “hero” as an emergency room physician during the COVID-19 pandemic.
From the Vault: A Hero’s Journey Gets an Encore
Ed Kozempel is a hero who understands the power of music and doesn’t let paranoid schizophrenia or bipolar get between him and his flute.
It Gets Better: A Yarn Bomber’s Tale of Hope
Yarn Bomber Nicole Nikolich creates vibrant works of art for the street that are filled with humor and hope and help her battle anxiety and depression.
The Awesome and Absolutely True Adventures of the Autisarians of Philadelphia
The Smith Family of Philadelphia rejects the limitations of the term autism, and instead create “The Autisarians,” people with superhuman abilities.
MENTAL HEALTH PODCAST
Episode 14 – “The Hunting Ground”: Recovering from Sexual Assault – an Interview with Documentary Film Subject, Kamilah Willingham
Interview with Kamilah Willingham, a subject of the documentary film, “The Hunting Ground.”
Episode 13 – Dr. Kristin Neff and the Art of Self-Compassion
Dr. Kristin Neff is a pioneer in the study and practice of self-compassion. What is self-compassion? Listen in to this podcast episode to find out.
Episode 12 – From Nigeria to the U.S. — A Journey with Anxiety and Depression
Adesola Ogunleye, a Nigerian American immigrant who lives with depression and anxiety, is interviewed on this episode of OC87 Recovery Diaries on the Radio.
ESSAYS ON MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY
Connected Through Trauma: A Police Officer’s Story of PTSD, Suicidality, and Hope
As a police officer, trauma, PTSD, and thoughts of suicide threatened to end Constable James Jefferson’s career, and his life, but he wouldn’t allow it.
How Severus Snape Saved My Life
Severus Snape saved my life; a life lived with seemingly endless pain and despair due to anxiety and depression, writes Giovanna Errore from Italy.
Implicit Messages in Mental Health Peer Specialist Work
A mental health peer specialist takes us inside to show us what it is like to work with clinicians to help individuals with mental illness recover and thrive.
A Must-See For First Responder Mental Health Training
Stirring stories of real first responders who have struggled with mental health challenges and came out on the other side.
These brave men and women demonstrate that seeking help is a strength, not a weakness, and that hope and recovery are possible.
Make a pay what you can donation for a DVD or digital download of these eight short films.
A Must-See For First Responder Mental Health Training
Stirring stories of real first responders who have struggled with mental health challenges and came out on the other side.
These brave men and women demonstrate that seeking help is a strength, not a weakness, and that hope and recovery are possible.
Make a pay what you can donation for a DVD or digital download of these eight short films.