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Free Film Screening of “Canvas” at Lake Theater a Success!!! Almost 200 local residents and supporters gathered at Oak Park’s Lake Theater to view a free screening of “Canvas” on Saturday June 21, 2008. Family Service & Mental Health Center of Oak Park & River Forest, Metro Suburban NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness) and Pillars hosted the event as a part of a two year stigma reduction and education campaign .
A brief discussion followed the film with a panel of guest speakers who also answered several questions from the audience. The panel consisted of Ann Sarpy, M.D., Family Service staff pyschiatrist and Medical Director; Diane Gilliard, LCPC, CADC, Pillars Senior Therapist; Donna Williams, and Angela Priestly. They discussed the impact of mental illness and the recovery process from the medical, therapeutic, family prospective and the impact of the illness on the individual. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration over the past 40 years Americans have acquired a greater and more sophisticated knowledge of mental illness. However, even with a gain in knowledge, the stigma of having a mental illness is getting worse, not better. Family Service and NAMI have embarked on a two year campaign to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness and create awareness and understanding to a wider community of persons. The free screening of “Canvas” was a part of the collaboration between Family Service, NAMI and Pillars in hopes to encourage positive dialogue and erode the stigma of mental illness. You can look forward to other programs as part of a two year Campaign for Mental Health Recovery. Sponsorship of this and other programs is provided by the Community Mental Health Board, Town of Oak Park, and the River Forest Mental Health Committee. ABOUT FAMILY SERVICE: Family Service and Mental Health Center of Oak Park & River Forest is at the forefront of behavioral healthcare in the Chicago metropolitan area and provides a comprehensive array of mental health and wellness programs to address a variety of needs. Family Service is located in the Ray A. Kroc Center for Family Services, 120 S. Marion Street, Oak Park, IL 60302. Additional information about the programs and services of Family Service is available by calling (708) 383-7500, and at www.familyserviceoprf.org.
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Directed by Joseph Greco, “Canvas” was inspired by his personal experiences. “I wanted to make a film about mental illness that was not only true to my experience but also universal…Not everyone grows up with a parent that is suffering from schizophrenia but everyone knows what it’s like to be embarrassed, angry and frustrated by a family member,” states Greco. 
