“Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness” is a two-part, four-hour documentary that explores the mental health crisis among youth in America. The film, from directors and co-producers Erik Ewers and Christopher Loren Ewers and executive producer Ken Burns, is part of “Well Beings,” a national campaign from public media to demystify and destigmatize our physical and mental health through storytelling.
“Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness” features first-person accounts from more than 20 young people, ranging in age from 11 to 27, who live with mental health conditions, as well as parents, teachers, friends, healthcare providers in their lives and independent mental health experts. The film presents an unvarnished window into daily life with mental health challenges, from seemingly insurmountable obstacles to stories of hope and resilience. Through the experiences of these young people, the film confronts the issues of stigma, discrimination, awareness and silence, and in doing so, help advance a shift in the public perception of mental health issues today.
“We hope that this film will save lives. As a society, we continue to test the resiliency of youth without truly understanding how the stressed of today, including this unprecedented pandemic, are impacting them,” said Burns. “Erik and Christopher and their team set out to listen and learn from America’s young people, documenting their experiences and allowing them to share how they are identifying new ways to address mental health challenges. It is a remarkable journey that captures the unique voices of these young people as they navigate an extraordinarily difficult era in our country’s history.”
“Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness” will premiere June 27 and 28 at 8:00 p.m. on Panhandle PBS. For a preview of the film with a special message from Ken Burns, visit wellbeings.org/plainsight.
