Under His Wings Screens at CBHS-sponsored Conference at the Zoo

The screening at today's conference, "Through Strengths and NOT our Weaknesses", at the Great Hall located inside San Francisco Zoo went very well. Rochelle's film, Under His Wings, was very well-received by the audience composed of about 50+ members from all walks of life including consumers of mental health services, their family & friends, clinicians, and physicians. They asked lots of great questions, and Rochelle was very articulate during Q/A. Many of the consumers who were moved by the film came up to her and gave her big hugs.

This conference, organized by San Francisco's Community Behavioral Health Services, explored ways to promote the Recovery Model within mental health, a collaborative model that emphasizes working with client's strengths, rather than focusing on their problems. The topics involved utilizing Positive Psychology, defining categories of strength, and using Solution-Focused approach to achieving goals. This seems to be the wave of the future in mental health. Our film project seems to embody these values.

Screening "Under His Wings" at The San Francisco Zoo

This coming Friday, December 10th, one of our films, "Under His Wings," will screen at The Great Hall in The San Francisco Zoo as part of a mental health workshop entitled "Through Strengths and Not Our Weaknesses." To my knowledge, however, none of the attendants at the workshop walk with four legs. It is intended for consumers of mental health, their families, physicians, nurses, and mental health practitioners.

This workshop, organized by San Francisco's Community Behavioral Health Services, is designed to promote a greater understanding of recovery from mental illness. Recovery is not a "one size fits all" model but requires ongoing support of family, friends, consumer-focused treatment, and developing self-empowerment and responsibility (as its brochure suggests). The values promoted by this workshop are also echoed by the film and embodied in the life of Rochelle--the subject of this film.

Thanks to Norman Aleman, organizer of this event, for inviting me and Rochelle to this event. Rochelle plans to bring her entire family to the zoo!