THE WISDOM OF TRAUMA

Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community. It is an integral component of health and well-being that underpins our individual and collective abilities to make decisions, build relationships and shape the world we live in. Mental health is a basic human right. And it is crucial to personal, community and socio-economic development. – World Health Organization

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“Trauma is not what happens to you. Trauma is what happens inside you, as a result of what happens to you.” – Gabor Maté

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Mental health affects everyone, yet it remains a topic often stigmatized and misunderstood. It is now more important than ever to bring awareness to mental health issues, shed ideas of mental health being taboo, and foster open conversations where people feel supported in seeking help. By shedding light on these deeply human and real challenges, we can create a culture that prioritizes mental well-being and recognizes its importance. Education and awareness are essential first steps to breaking down these barriers, promoting empathy and understanding. 

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On Sunday January 26th, 2025, the Meaningful Movies High School Interns hosted a free online screening of the documentary film, The Wisdom of Trauma (2021) in collaboration with the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Washington (NAMI Washington). We started our event with a special performance by dancer Zoe Ward of her piece Lament which explored her journey of grief and resilience through the loss of a close friend who died by suicide. The screening was followed by a focused panel discussion with guest speakers from NAMI Washington who talked about their own experiences with mental health as young adults in today’s society.

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One in five Americans are diagnosed with mental illness in any given year. Suicide is the second most common cause of death in the US for youth aged 15-24, and kills over 700,000 people a year globally and 48,300 in the USA. Drug overdose kills 81,000 in the USA annually. The autoimmune epidemic affects 24 million people in the USA. What is going on?

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The Wisdom of Trauma is a documentary that follows physician, bestselling author and Order of Canada recipient Dr. Gabor Maté. The film examines mental health through the lens of trauma, exploring how specific environments and abuse contribute to recurring societal and personal struggles of addiction and illness. The documentary presents a compassionate exploration of how trauma shapes lives, relationships, and perceptions of the world through the stories of real people and their lived experiences highlighting the need for a trauma-informed approach in parenting, education, healthcare, and policy-making, advocating for understanding the sources of suffering rather than merely treating symptoms or judging behaviors. By sharing the real experiences of real people, it offers a deeply human perspective on the impacts of trauma and mental health challenges.

 

Post Film Discussion:

The conversation around mental health continued after the screening of the documentary with a focused panel discussion featuring members of NAMI Washington: Chashni, Antonio, Taanvi, Zoe, and Alondra. With both pre-written questions and live audience participation via Zoom, the discussion focused on how societal systems contribute to trauma and mental health struggles. The panel highlighted the impact of cultural stigmas on communities of color, which often discourage individuals from seeking help as well as the importance of fostering trauma-informed environments, specifically though reframing trauma as a vital step toward healing and improving the conversation around mental health. 

 

​Learn More about The Wisdom of Trauma via their website

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About Our Partner: 

NAMI Washington is the State office of the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental health conditions. We work with local affiliates in communities around the state to improve the quality of life for all those affected by mental health conditions.

 

Donate to the Meaningful Movies Project at: https://meaningfulmovies.org/donate/

To Donate to NAMI WA go to: https://www.namiwa.org/donate

 

Learn more about your native lands at: https://native-land.ca/

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