CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

M state to host video, panel on mental illness

Fergus Falls Daily Journal - 2/18/2019

Feb. 16--DETROIT LAKES -- An eight-part new video series on mental illness is being offered as a free, online resource in partnership with Becker County Energize. The series called, "Inside Out: A Step Inside Mental Illness," is being launched with a video premiere and panel discussion Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. at M State in Detroit Lakes. This is a free event and all are welcome to attend.

At 6:15 p.m. resource booths from mental health facilities around the area will be open in the lobby outside the main auditorium of M State. At 7 p.m. a 10-minute special reel of the video series will be shown followed by a panel discussion.

The panel will consist of a variety of mental health professionals along with two people from the video who are available to answer questions from their perspective on anxiety, depression and trauma-based mental illness. Questions from the audience can be asked to the mental health professionals directly or confidentially through the facilitator.

"Inside Out: A Step Inside Mental Illness" is an eight-week video series covering the mental illness topics of trauma and PTSD, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, addiction, suicide and attention deficit disorder.

Each video topic has three parts. The first part is a simulation that gives an inside view to what it's like living with a certain mental illness. The second part is an interview with that person on camera. The third part is with a mental health professional offering insight, treatment options, and suggestions for family or friends supporting someone with mental illness.

The videos will be made available to the public through viewing on Becker County Energize as well as aired on TV3. They will also be made available as free download to use and share as the public likes through LB Video Productions.

The videos were produced by LB Video Productions, a division of Leighton Broadcasting. Producer Erika Gilsdorf said her first-hand experience with anxiety since she's been a young girl prompted her to find a way to broaden awareness on mental illness. "I've had obsessive compulsive disorder since second grade. I get asked a lot what it's like," Gilsdorf said. "So, I thought, why not try and show people? I know so many people who suffer, often in silence, with mental illness and it seems to be a hush topic for no reason."

She hopes more people will get the help they need and have access to advice and tips to help others. It's often hard for people to know how to approach or talk about mental illness. This series aims to break through some common barriers and stigmas. "Getting to see from a person's perspective on what depression or PTSD looks and feels like for example can build empathy and support," Gilsdorf said. "I wanted this series to help people who are suffering with mental illness to know they're not alone, there is help, there is hope and they don't have to suffer in silence. I wanted to break stigmas and misconceptions around mental illness."

"I'm excited to be working with Becker County Energize and the supporters of this project to broaden awareness on mental illness and provide some great resources and advice from mental health professionals," Gilsdorf said.

Gilsdorf hopes that views will gain knowledge about mental illnesses. "From both the premiere and panel and the weekly videos, I'm hoping people will get valuable tips, advice, help and hope around mental illness both for themselves if they're suffering or on how to support someone they love with mental illness challenges."

Come to the free event to see the video premiere and get access to mental health professionals to ask your questions and learn about mental illness and wellbeing.

Funding for the video series was a collaborative effort from the following sponsors: White Earth Mental Health, Sanford Health, Lake Region Healthcare, Lakeland Mental Health Center,

Minnesota Department of Human Services, Essentia Health, Northwestern Mental Health Center, Ethan Berry Memorial, Red River Behavioral Health System, Stellher Human Services, Lakes Crisis & Resource Center and Wellness in the Woods. Media sponsors include Leighton Broadcasting and Detroit Lakes Tribune.

___

(c)2019 the Fergus Falls Daily Journal (Fergus Falls, Minn.)

Visit the Fergus Falls Daily Journal (Fergus Falls, Minn.) at www.fergusfallsjournal.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.