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Stigma

1958 19 min
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This film tells the story of a young woman who suffers a mental breakdown, recovers fully in a mental hospital and returns home. Instead of the understanding and support she most needs from her friends and associates, she is virtually ostracized. The film makes a plea for a change in the sort of public thinking that places a stigma upon people who have suffered from an illness of the mind rather than of the body.

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Stigma

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This film tells the story of a young woman who suffers a mental breakdown, recovers fully in a mental hospital and returns home. Instead of the understanding and support she most needs from her friends and associates, she is virtually ostracized. The film makes a plea for a change in the sort of public thinking that places a stigma upon people who have suffered from an illness of the mind rather than of the body.

  • director
    Stanley Jackson
  • script
    Stanley Jackson
  • executive producer
    Tom Daly
  • camera
    Robert Humble
  • editing
    William Greaves
  • sound editing
    Malca Gillson
  • cast
    Monique Chabot
    Martha Choquette
    Mickey Martin
    Benoît Girard
    Stanley Mellough
    Marie-Louisa Holtz

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Education

Ages 15 to 16
School subjects
Would you be afraid of spending time with someone suffering from a mental illness? This makes a good subject for reflection and discussion to raise students’ awareness of prejudicial attitudes toward mental illnesses. Many studies have found that so-called normal people tend to avoid people suffering from mental illnesses. Have students find examples and think about the consequences of such attitudes on the lives of the mentally ill.
Stigma
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