On any given night in America 125,000
veterans are homeless and sleeping on the streets. Lack of family,
social and medical support has driven them there, people often
unwilling to understand what is going on within them. In London,
England, the number of homeless veterans sleeping on the street is
estimated to be about 1100. These are the forgotten, the ones pushed
away because their usefulness has, in the eyes of the people around
them, come to an end.
Battlefield Of The Mind is a new
documentary which delves in to the life of veterans suffering from
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a mental health problem which
is linked to their experiences in the theatre of war. With many now
doing several deployments, they find themselves unable to switch off
and return to civilian life. They find that what they have
experienced in battle, the deaths of friends and innocents, and the
injustices of war, life changing. Battle scarred, they return home to
find that the support they so desperately need is lacking, not just
from family and friends, but also from health services and the
government and military they entrusted their lives to. On the side of
friends and family, it is often not a lack of compassion but a lack
of understanding. Tragically, mental health issues are still the
invisible illnesses which many believe should be brushed beneath the
carpet and forgotten about.
The film makes for some unsettling and
worrying viewing, showing mental health issues in a way which they
have never been shown. Everything has been captured for the world to
see; the pain, the agony, the frustration. It's a film I challenge
anyone to watch. If you come away feeling angry, hurt, upset, and
with a fire in your belly to right the wrongs of this world, then
you're on the right track. Cliches are irrelevant when it comes to
this film, but it truly does take you on a roller-coaster of
emotions.
Thankfully, Battlefield does show us
what is being done. Charities such as Veterans First and the Pathway
Home are stepping in to fill the void, offering support and help to
those who want it. Through their programs, the veterans go on to find
homes, employment which matches the skills they used in the military,
and a life outside of PTSD. We get to hear of several success
stories, including that of Pirate Mike who, while filming was taking
place, went and became a part of the Veterans First family.
PTSD in veterans is a global problem
and Strine gives us a glimpse at the tip of the iceberg. This is a
film which needs to be seen by everyone from politicians, to the
military, to the media, to charities, to health care workers. It's a
film which I believe will not only open eyes, but will become a tool
in helping to combat the agony of PTSD.
The consideration which the crew show
to the veterans they feature is second to none. This is not an
exposé. This is a piece of work
which refuses to rely on fear mongering and gossip. Instead, it takes
our hand and leads us in to a world which needs to be seen.
Fran Strine's Battlefield Of The Mind
is a powerful and compassionate look at a side of war many people
refuse to think about.
Battlefield of the Mind is now available to download and stream at http://chill.com/fran_strine/battlefield-of-the-mind?autoplay=1
The DVD and soundtrack, featuring many of today's best rock and metal artists, are scheduled for release on April 24th.
For help, support, information, or to get involved, please visit Combat Stress (UK) or Veterans First (Orange County, USA).
The DVD and soundtrack, featuring many of today's best rock and metal artists, are scheduled for release on April 24th.
I know a veteran with PTSD. It pretty much caused him to lose his family, among other things. It's good to see people spreading awareness. So many people with mental illnesses are misunderstood and misjudged.
ReplyDeletePS - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! :)
Hehe thank you! This past week's been manic and doesn't look like it's slowing down!
DeletePTSD in veterans is incredibly hard and I'm so glad this film is out there. It's amazing and I'm really hoping that everyone who needs to see it does. Mental health problems in general are so often ignored because they can't be seen. Can't wait for the day society finally accepts people, no matter what. xxx
For those wanting to see it, this film has been released on Chill and is now available for streaming and download:
ReplyDeletehttp://chill.com/fran_strine/battlefield-of-the-mind?autoplay=1
Thanks, Chris! Passing that on now via Facebook, Twitter and email.
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