After a rural Missouri high school lost three students to suicide, Mark Norwine, a mental health advocate, decided to walk across the state in an attempt to raise awareness for the issue. He was joined by his son, Eric, who comes along to support his father, but also to confront him about their family’s own mental health struggles.
As a filmmaker, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to tell the Norwine’s story. But here’s the thing: I was the last person you’d pick to make a movie about mental health.
I’d never been diagnosed with a disorder, I’d never worked in the field as a professional, and — worst of all — when Eric Norwine told me he had bipolar disorder, I backed away in fear.
The truth is, Eric and I went to the same high school just outside of St. Louis, Missouri. We were both good students, played sports and went out for
Bipolar disorder manifests itself in different ways for different people. For Eric, it meant having six to seven emotional swings a day, between an extreme manic joy and a bottomless depression. He describes it as flying in a plane, never knowing if you’re going to land in the middle of a war zone or on an island in paradise.
I didn’t know any of this while we were in high school. In fact, Eric is a few years younger than me and we didn’t become close friends until he graduated from USC’s Film School. That’s when told me about his bipolar disorder, his father’s suicide attempts and his mother’s determination to hold the family together against all odds.
Admittedly, at that point in time, most of my understanding about mental health came from news headlines. Most of these headlines were often related to something horrible, like a mass shooting. Most of these headlines were scary.
And so yes, the Norwine’s story scared me.
But the same story that scared me, wouldn’t let me go. I had never seen the humans behind the headlines up close and personal like this. And even though I don’t live with a diagnosable mental disorder, through the process of making Walking Man, I’ve realized that this issue is my responsibility.
After all, this is not a mental health issue — this is a universal issue.
Little by little, the Norwine’s story has shaped my worldview in three significant ways:
1. Mental Health Affects Every American
One in five Americans live with a diagnosable mental disorder, so we all have at least one friend, family member, or co-worker dealing with a very real issue. Beyond that, most of us experience symptoms typically associated with a mental disorder at some point in our life.
2. This is Not Your Fault
90 percent of individuals who die by suicide experience mental illness. We do no good for anyone by labeling suicide victims as selfish or malicious. Similarly, we need to lift the burden of guilt off family and friends who lose someone to suicide. Mark often says, “If you break your leg, we don’t expect you to get up and walk. So why do we expect so much more from the most complicated organ in our body?”
We need more research. We need more resources. We need less shame.
3. No One Does It Alone
There is no easy solution when it comes to mental health, but one thing is clear: no one is able to make this journey all alone. If you’re hurting, reach out for help. If you’re healthy, reach out to someone who is hurting. If you have power, fight to get mental health education and resources to those who don’t currently have access.
In the movie, Mark says: “You know what we couldn’t talk about when I was a kid? Cancer. Seems silly now, doesn’t it?” I hope we can say the same thing about mental health in America someday.
And if you’re wondering if Americans can overcome the stigmas they have about mental health, well…
I’m living proof.
“Walking Man” is available to download on iTunes and more.