{"id":5473,"date":"2020-06-17T17:44:35","date_gmt":"2020-06-17T17:44:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/sitenews\/2020\/06\/17\/about-uncertainty-a-film-mental-illness-and-seeking-help\/"},"modified":"2020-06-17T17:44:35","modified_gmt":"2020-06-17T17:44:35","slug":"about-uncertainty-a-film-mental-illness-and-seeking-help","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/about-uncertainty-a-film-mental-illness-and-seeking-help\/","title":{"rendered":"About Uncertainty, a film – mental illness and seeking help"},"content":{"rendered":"

The recent release of the film \u2018Uncertainty\u2019 has focused attention on supporting and seeking help for those who struggle with mental illness. <\/em><\/p>\n

16 June 2020 | St Albans \/ Bern [ted<\/em>NEWS\/EUDnews]  <\/p>\n

The Seventh-day Adventist Church has intentionally become more focused on supporting and raising awareness for people with mental health issues. The latest initiative is a moving film where the storyline deals with issues of anxiety and depression. Created by the South American Division, it was premiered on 5 June as part of the GAi<\/em>N Europe Uncertainty project<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis film looks like it was made for me,\u201d RG wrote after seeing the movie. \u201cI have been through this\u2026 I ask pray for me. Please help me.\u201d He was one of many to respond.<\/p>\n

\"Helgi<\/a>\u201cIt is encouraging that the church\u2019s communication department has put a focus on mental health issues, one of the biggest challenges in modern healthcare,\u201d states Dr Helgi J\u00f3nsson, a psychiatrist and Health Ministries director for the Trans-European Division (TED). He is proud of the church for releasing a film like this.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe, as a church, should be at the forefront of opening up the discussion on mental illness. Both within our churches and in society. And that is the biggest contribution of a film like this one, acknowledging the fact that many of us struggle with mental health issues of any kind.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"uncertainty<\/a>The 45-minute film is beautifully shot and edited. It has a powerful storyline and is now available around the world in Portuguese, Spanish, English (subtitled) and Italian. The script was developed in consultation with those who have suffered from depression \u2013 and those who have helped them recover. It depicts the inner struggles of the main character, Alice, in a creative way.<\/p>\n

Adrian Dur\u00e9 was a consultant supervisor for the film. He monitored social media during the release and noted that it \u201cgenerated a very positive and constructive discussion on social media.\u201d While some people expressed that they didn\u2019t feel comfortable with the genre or format, calling it a \u201cdark movie\u201d, Dur\u00e9 remarked that \u201cmost viewers felt that the movie, and especially the genre, is perfect for portraying a sad reality, and a situation that so many people around the globe are experiencing.\u201d They also congratulated the Adventist Church, in their words, \u201cfor finally doing a movie that portrays the reality.\u201d<\/p>\n

And that reality? \u201cHaving the harsh, cruel inner voice as an independent person made the self-criticism of many dealing with mental illness more real,\u201d J\u00f3nsson states. RG, a viewer from Texas wrote, \u201cThis film does an amazing job of expressing doubts and uncertainty in an external form, which can be a difficult thing to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Karen Holford, TED Family Ministries director, is an experienced Family Counsellor and therapist. She notes that \u201csome of the \u2018voices\u2019 in Alice\u2019s thoughts have probably come from well-meaning people in her life who have tried to help her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"KarenHer very practical suggestion is that \u201cthis is a reminder for all of us to spend time listening to friends and family who are struggling with difficult feelings and mental illness, and being sad with them (mourn with those who mourn. Romans 12:15).\u201d She adds, \u201cWhen we do speak, it\u2019s important to say things that will help them to feel loved and accepted, no matter what they are experiencing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Listening and speaking appropriately are both emphasised towards the end of the film. And while the storyline has something of a happy ending, there is also a recognition that recovery is always a journey \u2013 and sometimes that journey can take years, or even a lifetime.<\/p>\n

How do you best react to a film depicting real-life issues?<\/p>\n

The South American Division media centre, Novo Tempo, coordinated a helpline in their territory during the weekend of the film release, providing helpful advice for those affected by the issues raised. They were overwhelmed by the positive, if challenging, response.<\/p>\n

Now the film is being translated and shared in a variety of countries around the world. Distributors in various languages and countries are encouraged to share local resources and helplines alongside the film that can point viewers in a positive direction. With English being a major international language, the film comes with general advice in the description, which can be supplemented with local contacts and helplines for specific countries.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf this film has raised issues for you or for people you know, please find an appropriate place to seek help. This may be a medical professional, a mental health expert or counsellor, a pastor or a trusted friend. You do not have to face this alone. While the story in this film is compressed into 45 minutes, healing and help often take longer. Please reach out for the help you need.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe actors did a very good job and everyone involved can be proud of the beautiful outcome of the film,\u201d J\u00f3nsson states. He then gets into the depths of the message noting that Alice appears to be suffering the consequences of sexual abuse. <\/p>\n

\u201cTrauma like that, especially early in life, is not a simple matter to deal with,\u201d he states, noting that \u201cthe complex symptomatology can oftentimes be difficult to diagnose properly.\u201d For that reason he sees the film as best trying to help profile issues while encouraging people to seek professional help.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe challenge with any film is that it has to simplify. These are complex issues and the time frame is probably longer than the film might tend to indicate,\u201d he adds. A specific important area that he has worked with is helping people to learn to trust once more.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe healing process for someone like Alice is usually counted in years,\u201d he states. \u201cThings can happen faster but that depends on the person and the trauma. You might ask: \u2018But God could do it faster?\u2019 and you\u2019re right. He could heal every broken bone with the snap of a finger\u2026but that\u2019s not how he usually does it. And a part of the healing process is learning to trust again, even God himself. The fact that it takes time is not a sign of lack of faith, or that God isn\u2019t by your side, but that the wound was deep.\u201d<\/p>\n

For both J\u00f3nsson and Holford, the most important message of the film is that there is hope. \u201cThings can get better and we shouldn\u2019t suffer in silence when it comes to mental health,\u201d Holford encourages. \u201cShould you or someone close to you suffer from mental illness, you should not hesitate to seek professional help. The sooner the better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Uncertainty \u2013 the Movie was released worldwide on 5 June and is available for viewing in four languages on a dedicated website: uncertaintyproject.org<\/a> and also on YouTube<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

ted<\/em>NEWS Staff: Victor Hulbert, editor; Deana Stojkovi\u0107, associate editor
119 St Peter’s Street, St Albans, Herts, AL1 3EY, England
E-mail: tednews@ted.adventist.org<\/a>
Website: www.ted.adventist.org
ted<\/em>NEWS is an information bulletin issued by the communication department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Trans-European Division. Readers are free to republish or share this article with appropriate credit including an active hyperlink to the original article.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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