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Documentary ?Voices' reveals struggle of mental illness

San Pedro Valley News-Sun (AZ) - 10/6/2015

SIERRA VISTA - A free documentary film revealing portraits of three very different individuals and their struggle with severe mental illness will be presented Wednesday and Thursday in the Mona Bishop room of the Sierra Vista Library.

The film, presented by the National Alliance on Mental Illness Southeastern Arizona (NAMI SAEZ), will be shown at 3:30 p.m.Oct. 7 and 4 p.m.Oct. 8. The film is being offered during Mental Health Awareness Week, Oct. 4 - 7.

"This documentary film lifts the veil off this difficult biological condition that millions of Americans live with every day," said Judy Tritz, president of the NAMI SAEZ board. "NAMI SAEZ is presenting this film in the belief that the more people know about mental illness, the better they can help themselves, their families and their communities get the support they need and the hope of recovery they deserve."

Hailed as an award-winning documentary that portrays the stark and intimate challenges of individuals that are struggling with severe mental illness, the stories of Sharon, Thomas and Aaron. It illuminates the challenges and "often complex emotions and choices that surround people with psychotic mental illness and those who love them."

Voices also features the narratives of families unburdening themselves of the stigma of mental illness while searching for answers they know they may never find.

According to a Voices synopsis, "The film takes a fresh approach, as families steer the narrative over rocky and deeply personal terrain. Without expert commentators deployed to 'make sense' of what often does not, Voices allows people to tell their own stories, unmediated by statistics or authorities that implay answers."sharing stories as they talk about the stigma of mental illness."

Phyllis Getz, executive director of the local NAMI chapter, says it is her hope the film will help viewers understand the challenges those individuals that hear voices face, as well as help reduce the stigma associated with mental illness.

For information, contact NAMI SAEZ at (520) 459-3228 or go to namisaezinfo@gmail.com.