Interfaith Network on Mental Illness

   An Outreach Program of NAMI Boulder County, Serving Boulder and Broomfield Counties

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Free Summer Movie: Canvas
  June 20, 2010, 7 p.m.
  Boulder Valley Christian Church, 7100 S. Boulder Road, Boulder, 80303.
  

  "Canvas" (2007) is a faithful portrayal of a family's attempt to cope with mental illness. Mental illness stretches this loving family to the breaking point when the wife/mother has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. They've been pursuing a variety of treatment options and she is clearly aware of the toll her condition has taken on the family. This is the first feature film from writer and director Joseph Greco, who drew inspiration from the story of his mother, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia when he was growing up.

  The community is invited to this free movie and is sponsored by the Interfaith Network on Mental Illness. There will be a panel of persons to respond and engage the audience. The panel consists of the following people:

  Jennifer Carr is a graduate of CU Boulder and hold a B.A. in Classics. She worked with the Episcopal campus ministry Canterbury seven years and now also serves as part of the Healing Ministry. Jennifer has dealt with her own diagnosis of mental illness for over a decade and her faith communities have always played an important role in her recovery, healthy or not. Jennifer currently works as a residential counselor for adults with developmental disabilities.

  Margery Wakefield was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 18. Although her psychiatrist at the time said that she would be institutionalized for life, she went on to complete a bachelor's degree in counseling and a master's degree in social work. And, she has "worked productively for most of her adult life." Her most recent book, "Living with Schizophrenia: As Told by Schizophrenics," is a collection of simple stories about 50 of her friends. Margery was formerly a consumer of the Chinook Clubhouse in Boulder.

  Mark Leifeste has been practicing bio-psycho-social, developmentally focused child (and adult) psychiatry for 26 years in Boulder. He is honored to be trusted by individuals and their families in this most intimate work to overcome, or manage, a broad range of diagnoses. After earning his B.A. (in philosophy) and his medical degree in Texas, Dr. Leifeste pursued his internship, residency, and a subspecialty fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Colorado. He is eager to dialogue about the art of this film and the courage and fortitude of those individuals and families living with profound mental illnesses/brain disorders.

  Sharon Bowyer is a family member who has been involved for many years with NAMI Boulder County. She has a brother with schizophrenia and has trained several of NAMI's Family-to-Family classes

  If you have questions, contact Alan Johnson, revalan2004@comcast.net.