ChickenHed Mental Health Film

[Amos Happ]

I suppose it was inevitable that ChickenHed would be asked, nay, paid, to lend our not inconsiderable talents to the psychiatric rehabilitation industry.

Cluck here... http://www.amoshapp.com/film.html ...to enjoy Welcome to Seventh Avenue, an orientation film we made for both the staff and clients of a large (and in charge) mental hospital. Our goal was empowerment, reframing and destigmatizing both participating in and providing treatment.

Please tell us what you think!!!

To Your Health,
Amos Happ
Chknhd Mgmt.

http://amoshapp.com/welcomelogo.jpg

[Kitten]

This film is amazing, and has changed my life.

Thank you, ChickenHed!

[kimberlily]

yes yes i agree!

i wanna go to 7th avenue!!!

:)

[Amos Happ]

We may have done our work all too well... the point of 7th avenue is to NOT have to be at 7th Ave!

(But while you are at 7th Ave, to be proud of the work you are doing, to value yourself, and to value treatment.)

Unless you meant work there... in which case, it's a grand opportunity if they are hiring! But the commute would be a bitch.

Amos Happ,
Chkhd Mgmt.

[ElectroXicution]

Needs more shit wrestling.

[flumP]

im down. where do i sign up! good job on the film too!

[Amos Happ]

the shit wrestling is in the Director's Butt.

[kimberlily]

Originally posted by Amos Happ
We may have done our work all too well... the point of 7th avenue is to NOT have to be at 7th Ave!

(But while you are at 7th Ave, to be proud of the work you are doing, to value yourself, and to value treatment.)

Unless you meant work there... in which case, it's a grand opportunity if they are hiring! But the commute would be a bitch.

Amos Happ,
Chkhd Mgmt.

i was thinking along the lines of: every mental health facility i've been to has left me feeling frustrated b/c of the lack of actual and real help available for people who need it...i have found myself in mental health facilities as a visitor on numerous occasions...certainly any visit i might make to 7th avenue as a patient or a visitor of a patient would be something i'd prefer not to have to do (as i'd prefer to not need to go there and i'd prefer that my loved ones not need to go there)...however, if i were to need to go there, the video made it clear to me that i would not leave with a cruddy feeling in my belly due to disillusionment with treatment of mental disorders...rather, i'd be happy that there are people seeking creative and positive ways to enable independence and change for those who need assistance...

i am also a helper by nature and can see that i may find myself at a place in my life where going into mental health work becomes a goal (although i don't have those ambitions at present), and if that was the case, i think i would be much much much happier working at a place like 7th avenue than the other places i have been to...

basically, the video shows that 7th avenue is a place where people can actually work towards goals in a helpful and healthy environment...and that's rad!

[Amos Happ]

Yep- that's the idea. Obviously, no two people will have the smae experience, but it really says something about the company that they would

A. Have people like the ones involved in the video even working there

B. Support such a zany, expectation-obliterating video

C. Be savvy enough to even know that the values of empowerment, creativity and personal reponsibility espoused in the fllm are the ones to have. Even if in practice it's hard to live up to those values all the time, at least it's the right set of goals.

Some facilities still do "custodial care" where patients are basically problems to be controlled and maintained. It's a tragedy.

Thanks for your support! As someone who worked in mental health for years at various levels of care, with various jobs, vor various groups of people, I can say that it's incredibly rewarding and intersting, fulfilling work but that you have to maintain excellent personal boundaries and healthy (i.e. not just pills & booze) coping skills.

Amos Happ

P.S. People of NWtekno- any other feedback? Perhaps some of you object to the way mental health issues are framed, or something? It's OK. These issues need to be talked about and they never are, it's part of the stigma. Even bad reviews are welcome! This is ChickenHed after all.