“Humans need anticipatory grief,” Johnson said-and one of the terrible aspects of the pandemic is, “COVID has robbed people of preparing for death.” She thinks right now, there is “a lot of unacknowledged grief.” Creating with her father a film where they act out, at times, a multitude of outrageous potential death scenarios was a comfort for her and, she hopes, for some who may be in a similar struggle. She pointed out that in a COVID world, we are not able to prepare for death. The purpose of Dick Johnson Is Dead, Kirsten explained, was to prepare her, and people in a similar situation, for witnessing deterioration and death from conditions like Alzheimer’s and dementia. Kirsten Johnson is a filmmaker whose documentary about her psychiatrist father’s struggle with dementia premiered at last year’s Sundance Film Festival. Referring to the great themes and lessons of storytelling throughout history, Dreyfous wondered, “What is this COVID period teaching us about resilience, endurance, and grit? What do we hold onto?” Therapeutic Stories of Family Life “We’re now in an age of biotech and data,” she said as the session began, then asked panelists what kind of stories can be told in an era defined by digital communication. The event, “ New Narratives in Mental Health: Embracing Grace, Humor, and Grief During Troubled Times,” was moderated by film producer Geralyn Dreyfous, founder and board chair of the Utah Film Center. We talked about the powerful combination of science and storytelling to influence mental health and foster resiliency in these troubled times. Stories that can inspire new attitudes-particularly toward mental health, social connection, and the importance of resiliency.ĭuring the Sundance Film Festival, I had the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion with four accomplished filmmakers. While the pandemic has caused grief and tremendous uncertainty, it helps to embrace stories that focus on handling sadness and fear with grace and humor. Keeping ourselves and our families healthy and safe has challenged many of us like never before. As a nation and a community, we have been tested by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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