“The Way Home” – Susie’s Story

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By April 17, 2015 No Comments

Authors: Mercury Television

Year: 2001

Event: 2001 TheMHS Awards

Subject:

Type of resource: TheMHS Awards

Award state: NZ

Award level: Winner

Award category: Broadcast

Abstract: A half hour television documentary which was produced and screened on nine regional stations around New Zealand for Schizophrenia Awareness Week in March 2001. “The documentary was made with the aim of finding a young person dealing with a serious mental illness who could be held up as a positive role model. Susie’s Story is an encouraging story of hope. It tells of Susie’s journey through months of anguish in a mental hospital and through the two years which she subsequently spent reclaiming her life. She lives independently, holds down a part time job and goes to University. The documentary features Susie, her family and a number of mental health professionals and support people. In particular, it demonstrates how important education is, not only for the person who has a mental illness but also for family and the people close to them. It shows how successful an integrated approach can be when health professionals and family work closely in helping someone to learn how to cope with an illness like schizophrenia. We would like it noted that this project was entirely funded by the private sector, and in this case it was only made possible by the generous support of Janssen Cilag who thoroughly endorsed the idea of a documentary that explored a holistic approach to the treatment of schizophrenia.” Excerpt from the entry, written by Katie O’Connor.

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