Inside Edition’s Lisa Guerrero and Entertainment Industries Council “Get Real” About Mental Health
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) August 12, 2013 -- An “Understanding Mental Health Recovery for Storytellers” Briefing, produced by the Entertainment Industries Council, Inc. (EIC), which was held on the Universal Studios lot today, gave creative writers and journalists unique access to experts and those in mental health recovery who shared their real life experiences. As part of EIC’s summer First Draft creators briefing series, this event furthers EIC’s mission to encourage and assist in the creation of authentic characters and storylines that encourage audiences, increase help-seeking behaviors and reduce discrimination by elevating the conversation around mental health. The briefing was moderated by Inside Edition’s Chief Investigative Correspondent, Lisa Guerrero.
“Media has the ability to change hearts and minds. Accurate storytelling can profoundly affect viewers and encourage conversation and action. If our efforts here create a character, report or story that causes one person to seek successful treatment for a mental health concern, and better their life, we have taken one step toward building healthier communities nationwide,” said Guerrero.
Interview subjects from “A New State of Mind: Ending the Stigma of Mental Illness,” narrated by actress Glenn Close, were among those in attendance, sharing their experiences and clips from the documentary. Featured panelists included Dr. Clayton Chau, Medical Director Behavioral Health Services, CalOptima; Keris Jän Myrick, M.B.A., M.S., Ph.D., President and CEO, Project Return Peer Support Network; Monica Potts, Peer Advocate Coordinator, LAMP Community; and Elyn Saks, J.D., Ph.D., Orrin B. Evans Professor of Law, Psychology and Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences, USC Gould School of Law.
“EIC’s First Draft briefings are a resource for entertainment writers, producers, directors, actors, executives, and series researchers. Through TEAM Up (Tools for Entertainment and Media), we are also providing valuable best practices and style guides for journalists covering mental health in both English and Spanish. Our goal is to change the conversation about mental health and elevate public consciousness to an understanding that it is okay to talk about these issues and to seek help, if you need it,” said Marie Gallo Dyak, Executive Vice President of Government Relations & Program Services for EIC and TEAM Up Project Director.
TEAM Up partners include EIC, National Association of Broadcasters, Radio Television Digital News Association, and California Mental Health Services Authority.
EIC presented “Understanding Mental Health Recovery for Storytellers” as part of a project administered by the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA)—an organization of county governments working to improve mental health outcomes for individuals, families and communities on a statewide, regional and local basis. Prevention and Early Intervention programs implemented by CalMHSA are funded by counties through the voter-approved Mental Health Services Act (Proposition 63), which provides the funding and framework needed to expand mental health services to previously underserved populations and all of California’s diverse communities.
About Entertainment Industries Council
EIC is a non-profit organization founded in 1983 by leaders within the entertainment industry to bring their power and influence to bear on communication about health and social issues. This mission relies on providing resource information to the creative community and culminates in recognition of the industry through the national television special PRISM Showcase which addresses accurate portrayals of substance use issues and mental health concerns. The organization also produces the S.E.T Awards, honoring positive and non-stereotypical portrayals of science, engineering and technology. For a complete list of health and social issues addressed by EIC and local projects please visit First Draft and EIC’s website.
EIC’s web site is http://www.eiconline.org . The PRISM Awards web site is http://www.prismawards.com .
About TEAM Up
EIC’s TEAM Up program is funded by the voter-approved Mental Health Services Act (Prop. 63). It is one of several Prevention and Early Intervention Initiatives implemented by CalMHSA. For more information, visit http://www.calmhsa.org . TEAM Up resources are available in English and Spanish at http://www.eiconline.org/teamup . TEAM Up also includes extensive Twitter outreach to further drive the conversation, highlighting news stories that accurately depict mental health, sharing resources and events, and offering guidance on mental health storytelling. Follow @MediaTEAMUp.
Skylar Jackson, The Entertainment Industries Council, http://www.eiconline.org, 703.481.1414, [email protected]
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