With Bill Lichtenstein and June Peoples Filmmakers Wednesday, August 20, 2003; 2:00 p.m ET
Life on the streets of New York City for the poor and homeless is an unforgiving struggle. For those who also battle mental illness, it is marked by the additional pressures of fear, isolation and misunderstanding. "West 47th Street" is a PBS documentary film that covers the mentally ill who inhabit America's urban streets. Filmed over three years at Fountain House, a renowned 50-year-old rehabilitation center in New York, "West 47th Street" reveals the human face of mental illness — and the faith and courage with which its victims fight to recover control of their lives. Directors Bill Lichtenstein and June Peoples were online Wednesday, Aug. 20 at 2 p.m. ET, to discuss the film. The film premiers Tuesday, Aug. 19 on PBS. Check your local listings. The transcript follows. Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
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Bill Lichtenstein and June Peoples: Hi, everybody, thanks so much for joining us today. We'll try to answer as many of your questions as we can during this hour. Please feel free to ask questions about the film, West 47th Street, or any other issues.
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Arlington, Va.: What more could the government do to help in serving the mentally ill?
Bill Lichtenstein and June Peoples: Great question, and especially timely right now as state of local governments across the country are facing budget shortfalls and making tough decisions about funding for mental health programs. One place to start might be to somehow de-politicize the decision-making process about mental health medical care so that, like other types of health care, the decisions are being driven by medical need. At present, mental health programs pretty much get what's left over after the Medicaid funds are spent on other physical health care.
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Washington, D.C.: Do you think mental illness is hereditary or is that just part of the equation?
Bill Lichtenstein and June Peoples: There's good research that shows that mental illnesses are among the most hereditary of diseases. Just last week they found a gene that predicts for suseptibility to depression under stress. These are clearly medical illnesses not character flaws.
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Syracuse, N.Y.: Have you kept in contact with any of the surviving Fountain House members since completeing the film, and if so what's their status?
Bill Lichtenstein and June Peoples: YES! Both Tex and Zeina were at the screening in New York last night, and we talked to Fitzroy about a week ago. Tex is well, Zeina just got a job, and Fitz is homeless again right now.
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Arlington, Va.:
Congratulations Bill and June on behalf of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.
Outstanding work! I know West 47th Street is available on VHS and DVD. How can individuals, colleges, or community organizations best use them? What kinds of events? Directed to what kinds of audiences? What should their key "action" messages be? And finally, what will your next big project be?!
Bob Carolla
NAMI News Director
www.nami.org
Bill Lichtenstein and June Peoples: Thanks so much Bob. You and NAMI were a huge part of getting the word out about the film. Most exciting about this is the ongoing 12 month educational and community engagement campaign to use the film as a catalyst for changing attitudes and public policy. We have supported and are working with dozens of groups around the country creating community screenings and other uses of the film, and we hope to have more funding available to help with others to come. You can find out more about them at our site, www.LCMedia.com. (Next: Hepatitis C, and a four part series for TV on juvenile justice, juvenile mental health, education and foster care, and where these systems intersect. Thanks again!
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St. Paul, Minn.: Mr. Lichtenstein, I read on the P.O.V. West 47th Street web site that you were diagnosed with manic depression 18 years ago. How were you able to overcome the depression? Do you have any recurances? What kind of support system did you have in place to lead you to where you are today? By the way, your film is incredibly moving. I hope alot of people will see this film. Thank you.
washingtonpost.com: PBS: POV West 47th Street
Bill Lichtenstein and June Peoples: Thanks for your question.
The short answer is the combination of medication, talk therapy (to help develop coping mechanisms) and social support were the three critical elements. Being open about it is very liberating, and a part of being comfortable with who you are (and I believe therapeutically valuable as well). (BL)
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Washington, D.C.: Do that the mentally ill homeless are generally homeless as a result of their mental illness, or do you think that being homeless can cause or exacerbate mential illness?
Bill Lichtenstein and June Peoples: Housing is perhaps the single most important part of the recovery process. Without a place to sleep and eat, people are unable to access services or adhere, when necessary, to rigorous medication and/or therapy schedules. As Fitzroy says, too, side effects may in some circumstances make people drowsy from time to time, and thus vulverable to attack.
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San Diego Calif.: I am with the DBSA San Diego. I have seen the film and found it very powerful. We hope to be able to show this to our members.
Would you consider a 2nd documentary about people like yourself that have found stability and are living somewhat normal lives while dealing a serious mood disorder?
So many powerful and famous people live with these diorders. This would be so inspirational for those of us that strive for wellness.
Bill Lichtenstein and June Peoples: Good question. We actually had a funny thing happen following our screening in NY last night. A young woman, very pleasant and together, approached us with the same comment as yours. Bill told her he very much agreed, and how important stories of people with mental illness can be in helping to destigmatize these illnesses. It's one reason we think people should "Tell Their Stories."
He mentioned a recent article in the papers in New York, about a young actress who said "I was in Cats, I had a lead role in Miss Saigon in London. And last year I was diagnosed with schizophrenia. But with the right treatment, I am doing OK."
The woman we were talking to said "That was me!" She was the actress. So yes, stories like that are very powerful, and we are considering that idea.
PS People can "Tell Their Stories" on the POV web site at www.PBS.org/POV
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Tulsa, Okla.: Would you be willing to come here and film whats wrong with insurance coverage for the mentally ill? - Chuck
Bill Lichtenstein and June Peoples: Yes, and if you have particular stories about this please email June directly at jpeoples@lcmedia.com.
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Ft Myers Fla.: Each time I encounter the metaphor "mental illness," I wonder how many people who employ it would also employ "physical illness" in the same manner.
"People with physical illness" and I know the answer: None.
The public prejudice of the "singular" illness is one of the worst of the sources of prejudices we face.
I am also bothered by the prejudice of "the". I believed we had learned from WWII the heinous results of categorizing people by a "the" but we have not. The first of the "the's" to be medically murdered were "the" mentally ill, in a gas chamber invented by doctors, Brandenburg 1939.
There is no "the" mentally ill, it IS a Nazi metaphor, and it survives. Why?
There is no "the" homeless, it is the same metaphor. Why must we endure it.
Harold
Bill Lichtenstein and June Peoples: We agree... and that's one of the reasons we are very careful to never speak of "the mentally ill" or to say "she is a schizophrenic." We are careful to always say "people with mental illness" or "she is living with schizophrenia." Most people would wince at pigeon-holing other groups in this way.
Words do matter.
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Burtonsville, Md.: The movie sounds very interesting, I can't wait to see it. I just saw a documentary titled "How's Your News?"- a handful of handicapped people traveled around the states interviewing the public. I thought it was very moving, informational, and entertaining. Which brings me to my question... I am an aspiring documentary filmmaker and I am struggling to decide how to approach my career. I have been told to go to a regular university and it doesn't really matter what I get my degree in- as long as it is a bachelors. I have been told to go to film school specifically, I have been told to get a job in the industry, like admin, and try and make connections, and I have been told to Just Make Something. Any advice? I am specifically interested in documentary film and have no technical experience.
Bill Lichtenstein and June Peoples: What I tell my students at The New School, here in NY, where I teach documentary film, is the story is what matters, and to find something you care passionately about. You can learn to shoot (or work with a camera person). You can hire an editor. But the story rules. We shot for the first year of three on West 47th Street with a $3000 Sony VX 1000 camera. (Although, as June points out -- sound is critical. You can live with less good pictures if your sound is good, but usually not vice versa.) (BL)
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Manchester Conn.:
There are many leading psychiatrists that are starting
to question the medical model of so-called mental
illness and several such as Dr. Breggin with Toxic
Psychiarty and Dr. Szasz with The Myth of Mental
Illness that have done so for years. As investigative
reporters what is your research on these alternative
views?
Bill Lichtenstein and June Peoples: On our public radio series, we have looked at everything from Prayer and Healing to the latest on genetic research. One thing is clear -- the more we know about the mind, the more we know we don't know! Good quesiton. Thanks.
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Washington, D.C.: Do the mentally ill homeless come from all income brackets, or do they generally tend to come from low income backgrounds?
Bill Lichtenstein and June Peoples: Anyone can become homeless. A close college friend who became a NYU trained lawyer, got manic depression and was homeless. I could have been if the cards had come up a little differently (my parents helped with the $475 rent for the five years I was sick.) But if not, I could have been there -- and once you are, its really hard to turn things around. So homelessness cuts across all strata (Zeinab in the film was a former middle-class housewife!)
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Tacoma, Wash.:
I am bipoplar doing fine for now....
My question concerns my 14yr old niece suffering from Aspergers syndrome. She is currently hospitalized to stabalize medications, but she will be out on Sat. and her mother does not want her back.
Is there a place in Georgia where this child can be given a chance to succeed and live and grow?
Bill Lichtenstein and June Peoples: Georgia has a really active Mental Health Association as well as a wonderful branch of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. And although Asperger's syndrome, part of the autistic spectrum, generally falls under services for developmentally disabled people, perhaps one of these two organizations might be able to help. They both have great websites, Google them...
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Virginia: We have had a child who has needed special mental health services for a bipolar disorder. His diagnosis has gotten us involved with police, juvenile courts, mental health facilities and nearly broke from all the medical bills. We have given up custody of this child to ensure he continues to receive Medicaid funding, but taking him away from the support of his family. When his disorder was at its worse, he would react by being violent, assaulting me, his mother and his brother. But we still love this child and care deeply about his ability to live with his disorder. Isn't there a better way to handle all this without destroying a family in the process?
Bill Lichtenstein and June Peoples: There must be a better way, and there is no more compelling or tragic story in America today than parents who must give up custody of their children to the state to get medical care for them. Would you please email me and we can talk about this further? This actually ties in with our next film project. jpeoples@lcmedia.com
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Miami, Fla.: How did you secure permission for the mentally ill subjects of your film to go on camera, especially given all the rules governing medical confidentiality and privacy? And why did you choose Friendship House to do your filming? Sincerely, Art
Bill Lichtenstein and June Peoples: Simply, we worked on the premise that people with mental illness could give permission to be filmed. We had them read the releases on camera, and explain what they meant. We did agree, as requested by Fountain House, to allow anyone who wanted to opt out of the film to do so up until the rough cut.
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San Diego, Calif:
I hope I am wrong, but did you say in the preface to the film that you were "cured" of mental illness?
To the best of my knowledge,which has been garnerned from surviving 40 years of Bipolar 1 mood swings,there are no cures to date,only remissions.
These are life-long struggles.
Sorry to rain on your parade,but I believe a documentary is no place for wishful thinking.
Bill Lichtenstein and June Peoples: I think I said "recovered." That word is relative, when it comes to mental illness. But the facts speak for themselves: after three hospitalizations in four years in the late 1980s, I have continued in treatment, and have not gotten ill again. Of couse, like diabetes, this is a lifelong, chronic illness that requires maintenance like any other. But I agree, and would not use the word "cured." (BL)
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Houston, Tex.: I watched "West 47th Street" last night and congratulations on your excellent work. I am going to recommend it to my friends and colleagues.
How long was the process of making this
film?
What unexpected challenges arose
during filming and how did you deal with
them?
Thank you.
Bill Lichtenstein and June Peoples: Thanks so much! We started raising funds for the film nine years ago, began filming seven years ago, shot for three years and edited for two more. Whew!
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Northampton, Mass.: Did you consult with any of the psychiartric consumer groups such as 25 year old survior group mindfreedom.org in the making of your documentary?
Bill Lichtenstein and June Peoples: All too often stories about people with mental illnesses are told from a third-party perspecttive. Our work has shown that there is tremendous power in the first person accounts of those affected. We hope you agree.
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Los Angeles, Calif.: In college I had two different roommates who were diagnosed with bipolar issues. One is leading a very effective life working in not-for-proffit agencies and has started a family. The other has had repeated hospitalizations, but lives independently and serves as an advocate for mental health clients for the County. She is about to enter a doctoral program. Both of my friends struggle with societal stigma about their circumstances. Do you see our society having better media images about mental illness in the near future?
Bill Lichtenstein and June Peoples: We hope that Wset 47th Street will help challenge these negative media images. Research shows that people do indeed take their ideas about mental illness from the media, and these accounts are far too often inaccurate and sensationalized.
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Eatontown, N.J.: Thank you for this incredible film. I know that resources must be quite limited but is there anything you are doing, screenings for example, for Congress to see your work? Are there any advocates in this administration?
Bill Lichtenstein and June Peoples: One of the most exciting things about the film has been its use to engage policymakers and politicians, and to facilitate community discussions about mental health issues, particuarly about funding.
In Tulsa, the Commissioner of the state Deparment of Mental of Health and Substance Abuse attended a screening with 200 people, where these issues were discussed. Assemblyman Brennan, who is in the film, is trying to set up a screening at the New York state capitol for legislators. There is interest in the film at the federal agency charged with implementing the president's New Freedom Report on mental health. Interestingly, tenacious mental health advocates sit on both sides of the aisle.
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Koloa, Hawaii: Aloha ~ What kind of reaction or feedback did you receive from those who were featured in your documentary after they viewed the film? Were you actually present when they viewed this film?
I am curious if those featured in the film saw a part of themselves they've never realized was within them by seeing their mental illness from a totally different perspective.
I also wanted to comment that it was extremely difficult for me, and with a heavy heart, to watch all of the residents at Fountain House with each of his or her own life's struggle throughout each day because of their mental illness. I can hardly bear the thought of their pain, confusion, feelings of hopelessness and anger. I am extremely grateful for those who have dedicated their lives to helping those who are struggling from mental illness. Humbleness and patience are wonderful virtures.
Mahalo nui loa for this well presented documentary film.
Corrina
Island of Kauai, HI
Bill Lichtenstein and June Peoples: Aloha to you, and mahalo for your question.
We have held several screenings for people in the film, and they were lots of fun -- really upbeat, warm occasions. Somewhat like home movies. Of course, there were scenes that are still hard for all of us to watch, but at least we were all going through it together.
We hope to be in Hawaii soon as mental health advocates in Honolulu are sponsoring a screening/discussion there in October. You can find out more at www.lcmedia.com.
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Glens Falls, N.Y.: After struggling with clinical depression over 8 years, I feel like I take one step forward and two back. I am afraid I am becoming tired of recovery when i don't seem to be making any sustaining progress. And its not from lack of trying. What inner resources gave you the umphh to keep going? Loved your film and do you work along with N.Y.A.P.R.S.? Thanks Nat
Bill Lichtenstein and June Peoples: Hang in there ... I also have depression and I know how bad you can feel. My advice: Reach out to friends, find support groups, and make sure your doctor is a real partner in your recovery process. And yes, we've had quiite a bit of contact with NYAPRS and respect its work tremendously. (JP)
For me, the most important thing to keep in mind (and the most important thing I heard from others) was that not only can things get better, but things WILL get better. You need to believe that the illness will lift, and you will get your life back. And with each day, there are more and more novel treatments (even new talk therapies...) that can really help. Run the race and stay the course! (BL)
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Bakersfield, Calif.:
Have you guys or intend to do a film on BPS.
Borderline Personality Disorder? I have recently been exposed to this disorder by my ex-wife. I am just learning about this since my wife was diagnosed with this illness, they don't know it's them and try to blame it on the ones that love them!
Bill Lichtenstein and June Peoples: Borderline Personality Disorder is a fascinating subject. We produced an hour-long radio program about BPD a couple of years ago for The Infinite Mind after June realized she had a friend with the disorder. Check it out at www.theinfinitemind.com. (the system is being updated right now and it will be up in 15 minutes)
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New York, NY: I found the show quite riveting. How did you select the subjects of your documentary> I thought Fitzroy was particularly compelling as a character study. He seemed to embody the struggle between assimilating and staying true to his Caribbean roots. He constantly went back and forth between talking like a regular American and slipping back to Jamaican patois when he felt afraid or intimidated or unsure. My heart went out to him. Is he okay?
Bill Lichtenstein and June Peoples: Fitzroy raises such interesting questions, doesn't he? We were just talking to a Caribbean friend this morning about him. She saw the film last night and was struck by his reliance on herbal medicine, and pointed out that this traditional approach is something Western medicine just doesn't want to know about. Clearly, we need more culturally competent care. And yes, we talked to Fitz two weeks ago, and he is just fine, although not currently attending Fountain House.
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Bill Lichtenstein and June Peoples: Thank-you to everybody for your questions. Although we stayed a half-hour over, we couldn't begin to answer all of them. It's been fun and informative for us. Please stay tuned to our website, www.lcmedia.com for continuous updates about screenings and events. For more information about the film, or to share your own story, please visit www.pbs.org/pov.
June and Bill
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