Mental illness is a national problem. This documentary will explore how the mental health system operates. It will investigate the causes for homelessness, the abundant numbers of mentally ill who are incarcerated, and the revolving hospital doors through which people with mental illness journey. It will also attempt to de-stigmatize mental illness by revealing the biological nature of the illness.
One out of four families are affected by serious mental illness. Of the known reported cases, schizophrenia affects 1.1% of the world’s population and 1.72% of Americans, which is over 2.6 million people in the United States. Unfortunately only one-third of Americans suffering from schizophrenia are receiving treatment. Mental Illness affects more than those who suffer with HIV, Cancer or Heart disease.
California as well as other states in our nation have legislation which mandate that persons with a mental illness must make the decision to either receive or decline treatment. However, the majority of individuals with mental illness fail to recognize or accept that they even have a problem; therefore they refuse treatment.
LPS Conservatorship is the legal venue in California which allows an individual suffering with mental illness to receive involuntary treatment. This procedure entails a costly and legal battle. As a result, victims remain untreated when treatment would have helped them recover and lead a normal life.
NAMI Westside Los Angeles, a 501C3 non-profit organization, is accepting funds to be used for production of the documentary Harm To Self. For more information on how you can make a donation, visit our donate page.
With the production of “Harm to Self, Harm to Others,” we are taking the initiative to affect change so that treatment is more easily attained for people diagnosed with and exhibiting serious mental disorders. Indeed every person has the right to choose treatment. However, we believe a person’s first and foremost right should be the right to health. People might ask, “How can you take their rights away,” I ask, “How can you imprison them in the frightening darkness of mental illness?”
Mission Statement
Mental Health and Hope LLC (MH&H) provides guidance and advice to families whose members or loved ones suffer from mental illness; educates and informs the general public of the prevalence of mental illness and the dire need for early intervention and quality treatment.
Goals
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Provide an educational avenue/medium pertaining to the tragedy and prevalence of mental illness.
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Strongly emphasize the success and high percentage and degree of recovery with treatment, especially with early intervention.
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Identify the deficiencies and shortcomings of the legal and mental health system.
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Expose false myths pertaining to mental illness.
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De-stigmatize mental illness.
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Promote more federal research funds for people with mental illness; funds for mental illness research are extremely disproportional with respect to funds which are allocated for research of other illnesses.
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Encourage funding be available for the new improved medications.
Message
Mental illness is a silent, secretive and sinister illness that strikes its unsuspecting and unaware victims. What was my introduction to the world of mental illness? Simply put, my brilliant son developed chronic acute paranoid schizophrenia. I am now blessed as he is in recovery and gainfully employed. As a result of his market progress, he has applied for a math research position. It was the right medication and therapy that worked for him! It unscrambled his brain and brought him out of the horrendous nightmare in which he was trapped. This difficult mental health journey changed our family’s life and our attitudes forever. We now have him back!
The major points which will be addressed in the film:
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Mental illness is treatable and recovery is possible.
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Mental illness is the result of a chemical imbalance in the brain.
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Medication is successful in treatment.
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The earlier the treatment, the greater the recovery.
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) is a great source of knowledge, not only for mental illness, but also for family support. I encourage you to do everything within your power to help your mentally ill loved one get the treatment they need, and for you to be educated about this illness. I know that medication and treatment can and does work. Good luck in your fight so your loved one can regain his/her life. But don’t forget to keep a sense of humor when traveling this bumpy road!
Message
Mental illness is a silent, secretive and sinister illness that strikes its unsuspecting and unaware victims. What was my introduction to the world of mental illness? Simply put, my brilliant son developed chronic acute paranoid schizophrenia. I am now blessed as he is in recovery and gainfully employed. As a result of his market progress, he has applied for a math research position. It was the right medication and therapy that worked for him! It unscrambled his brain and brought him out of the horrendous nightmare in which he was trapped. This difficult mental health journey changed our family’s life and our attitudes forever. We now have him back!
Gail Evanguelidi
Visionary, Activist & Executive Producer
Gail Evanguelidi earned her master’s degree in geology from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She is a California NAMI Board member, a signature “Family to Family” teacher, and an LPS Conservatorship specialist who authored a guide to acquiring an LPS Conservatorship for families. She is dedicated to helping people, not only to secure treatment for their loved ones, but also in assisting them to find the best medication suited in their treatment.
She and her husband are committed in helping their son in his recovery, and to helping others in dealing with this illness. They are both from Louisiana and recognize the mental health problems, nationwide, which need to be corrected. Their dream is to see that the mental health system and that the laws are revised, so people with mental illness can get the necessary help to travel the road to recovery.
Jack Gulick
Director
Jack Gulick obtained his BFA in Film and Television from New York University. Upon graduation, he began working for the United Nations in the Department of Public Information in the Television, News and Film division, where he associate produced the TV series “World Chronicle”. After five years with the United Nations Gulick transitioned into the entertainment management world when he took a job working for famed nightclub magnates Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell as Production Stage Manager at New York’s Palladium.
In 1987, Gulick elected to pursue a freelance production career working with Propaganda Films, O Pictures, MGMM, Squeak Pictures, The End and other production companies in the documentary, commercial, music video and live concert fields. During this time he worked on such projects such as Metallica's multi-platinum “A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica” and Mariah Carey’s first concert. In 1994 Gulick joined Automatic Productions and produced “Here Is Mariah Carey” which aired on NBC and the Grammy-nominated Bruce Springsteen documentary “Blood Brothers”. He left Automatic in 1998 and returned to freelance production where he line produced the Oscar-nominated Paul Taylor Dance Company documentary, “Dancemaker” and produced Mariah Carey's third TV special “Around the World”, which aired on UPN. Projects with Shania Twain, Sting, Dave Matthews Band and others followed.
In 2004, Gulick produced the feature film “Lighting in a Bottle”, which was directed by Antoine Fuqua and executive produced By Martin Scorcese. Gulick joined forces with Coming Home Media and produced numerous live concert DVD’s such as Matchbox Twenty’s “Show”, directed By Hamish Hamilton, Boz Scaggs and Dave Mathews Band “The Central Park Concert”. His most recent works include 2004’s Godsmack “Changes” DVD and 2005’s Duran Duran “Live From London” and Audioslave “Live From Cuba”, which marked the first time a US rock band has been filmed under that Communist regime. In 2006 Gulick executive produced “Bastards of the Party" for Fuqua Films and HBO.
Jack Gulick currently resides in Los Angeles, CA as well as New York City.
Larry Rodriguez
Producer
An entertainment industry veteran, Larry Rodriguez brings acknowledged business, leadership, supervisory, production and post production skills to the project. Rodriguez is an experienced Studio Executive well versed in all aspects of film production with detailed focus on post-production and distribution. Rodriguez has a Bachelor of Arts in Cinema and Television Arts from California State University Northridge.
Rodriguez served as the Head of Post Production and Worldwide Film Services for Bauer Martinez Studios in Association with Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM). He was the Department Head responsible for the completion, technical acceptance and distribution of all Feature Film master material and legal documents needed for Global distribution. Rodriguez also performed these services during his time at First Look Studios and Blue Rider Finance.
In his very early teen years, Rodriguez was once asked during an Academic Essay to identify and write about a person who he deemed memorable. His essay was about a homeless man and focused on who he and people like him were and where they came from while asking the big question ‘why.’ Rodriguez is the sibling of Sandra Fleischaker LCSW, mental health professional, who helped him later develop a better understanding of mental illness and how it affects society as a whole. His first encounter with Schizophrenia came at an early age when a good friend’s mother began living in a park near her son’s family home. Comprehending the monumental task that it is to create Global awareness on an issue, Rodriguez encouraged the documentary format for Mental illness and joined the team in hopes of adding to the driving force that will send a clear message of hope and the reality of recovery to every home.
Frank Donner
Producer
Frank Donner is the founder and CEO of FDE. FDE, Inc is designed to be a dynamic and innovative Creative Digital Studio for the Media and Entertainment Industry. Utilizing FDE's trademarked workflow processes, "Concept, Creation, Completion", the company is developing efficient, streamlined, and scalable solutions for the Industry.
Frank is an entertainment industry veteran both as an accomplished executive and film producer with expertise in both creative and content technology services. Prior to FDE, Mr. Donner was the President of Elektrofilm Digital Studios, an industry leader and multi-national enterprise in technology-enabled media services for the entertainment industry. Mr. Donner was hand-picked to launch and grow Elektrofilm from a standing start to a $10 million dollar business in under three years. Mr. Donner oversaw all operations and business development efforts, and was responsible for attracting key executive talent to execute Elektrofilm’s business model and strategy. Prior to Elektrofilm, Mr. Donner was the President of Advanced Digital Services Inc., an industry leader in post-production services for the motion picture industry. Prior to ADS, Mr. Donner was Vice President of Marketing and New Business Development at Ascent Media and Director of Customer Service and Sales at Four Media Company.
As a film producer, Mr. Donner produced the 2006 Academy Award nominated documentary “Deliver Us From Evil”, the film “Between”, which was selected for the 2005 Sundance film competition, the film “Distortion” - 2006, and served as producer on the films “Broken Idyll” – 2009 and “Locked” – 2006. Mr. Donner has a B.A. in Business and Communications and a B.S. in Radio, Television and Film from California State University Northridge.
Sharon S. Dunas, MA, MFT has been a licensed practitioner since 1982 with specialties in treating addictive behaviors, stress and trauma, and coping with chronic serious mental illnesses. Since 2005, she has been the President of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Westside LA. The passion and energy she gives to helping others has resulted in her being the recipient of numerous awards such as the “Elizabeth Hartigan”, “Leadership”, “Family Advocate”, and “Humility Recognition” awards. She has appeared on radio, television, and speaking tours, advocating treatment for mental illness. She authored articles for various major publications, entitled, “Guidelines for Handling Psychoses, What is this Condition Called Depression?, Narcissistic Wound of Mental Illness, which have helped numerous people in seeking recovery. She not only organizes but teaches many of the programs and classes which help family members, practitioners, and providers to understand and deal with those affected with mental illness. She is energetic and unswerving in her desire to provide treatment and end the stigma for those affected with mental illness. She is a guiding light for elevating awareness of mental illness and for those who are dealing with mental illness in their family.
Margot Landen
Still Photography
Margot Landen, a native of New Orleans, developed a passion for filmmaking and photography at an early age. This led her to pursue a B.F.A. from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a focus on film. She has worked with major television and film studios, and is credited for work shown in nationally-recognized film festivals. She is the owner of Dot to Dot Pictures LLC, where she provides her clients with high-quality, distinctive, documentary-style photography.
Margot became involved in the production of "Harm to Self, Harm to Others" when it was just a concept. She had witnessed first-hand the suffering caused by mental illness following the diagnosis of a childhood friend with schizophrenia. It is her goal to help facilitate change through the use of powerful imagery in the ongoing fight for early intervention and treatment of mental illness. It is a project she holds close to her heart.
