Testimonials

Here are some examples of what people are saying about Hidden Pictures:

“From the director of one of the best films on mental illness, Unlisted: A Story of Schizophrenia, comes another winner! Hidden Pictures is a deeply moving film about the lives of people with mental illness in five countries, all of which share a narrative of stigma and obstacles to appropriate care. This is the first film which vividly portrays the universal experiences of mental illness and is a must see!.” – Dr. Vikram Patel, Professor at the London School of Tropical Medicine and Co-founder of The Movement For Global Mental Health

“Hidden Pictures is a provocative film that has the capacity to inspire, whether or not you know anything about mental illness. I found myself immediately pulled in and deeply moved by each of the stories it revealed.  Global in its scope, but yet so personal in its delivery.”  – Glenn Close, Actress and Co-founder of Bring Change 2 Mind

“With bravery and deep compassion, Hidden Pictures  confronts the debilitating stigma associated with mental illness around the world, and boldly suggests that we can do better.  In exposing the pervasive shame and secrecy surrounding mental illness, Ruston advances a movement to improve access to treatment and services, to protect patients’ dignity and human rights, and to alter the dialogue about mental illness in rich and poor nations alike.”­ ‐ Paul Farmer, MD, Chair of the Department of Global Health at Harvard Medical School and Co-founder of Partners In Health

“Hidden Pictures is an eye-opening, disturbing, but ultimately hopeful tribute to resilience and recovery. I didn’t think Dr. Ruston could equal her first documentary, UNLISTED, which is the best film I’ve seen about a daughter’s struggle to bond with her father who has schizophrenia. HIDDEN PICTURES meets that lofty challenge.”  – Pete Earley, Pulitizer Winning Reporter and Bestselling Author of  CRAZY

“I believe those who see Hidden Pictures will be motivated to join actions to alleviate the vast public health problems and human suffering that mental illness can produce.” – Norman Sartorius, Former Director of Mental Health at the World Health Organization and Former President of the World Psychiatric Association

 “Delaney Ruston and Hidden Pictures are taking on the world!  As an American who has traveled I think Delaney’s work is invaluable. She is allowing us to see the suffering of mental illness oversees.  I live with mental illness and find it terrifying to see how some people, in foreign countries, and in some parts of America also, are forced to live because of their unmedicated mental illnesses. It’s because of people like Delaney that hope is kept alive.” – Jesse Close,  Author and Co-founder of Bring Change 2 Mind with sister,  actress Glenn Close

“What does it take to let the world know about the devastating world-wide toll of mental illness? Real people talking about their real struggles. In Hidden Pictures, Delaney Ruston introduces us to people living with mental illness on three continents, and weaves in her father’s story as well. It’s a deeply compelling documentary that exposes us to the harm caused by ignorance of these diseases, at the same time pointing that currently available, effective, inexpensive treatments can make a real difference. The human faces in Hidden Pictures should do much to destigmatize one of the world’s most deeply stigmatized set of diseases.”Joanne Silberner, NPR Reporter, The World

 “Gentle, visually beautiful, equally achingly poignant, and disturbing,  Hidden pictures leaves you pondering why we cloak common neurological disorders in secrecy and shame when they are so treatable and everyone knows someone who is affected.” –  Penelope Frese, Ph.D, So-founder of The Red Flags Mental Health Education Program

“I love the powerful way your messages speak about mental and emotional illness and the way it impacts the whole family ”   Margaret Cook, Deputy Chair  of Children of Mentally Ill Consumers 

“We screened this fascinating film in October 2013 at Webster University in Geneva. It was great! The room was full and the discussion that followed, with Dr. Ruston interacting via skype, further highlighted some of the films important messages, especially asking ourselves personally: ‘ who is hiding, hurting, and helping?’ The film is a moving, serious, and deeply probing journey into the area of global mental health. A must see!” – Dr. Kelly O’Donnell, Psychologist

“What a fantastic film! Delaney Rustin weaves together a broad spectrum of glimpses into the lives of  persons with serious mental illness and their families. Her presentations of the perspectives of those in India, China, South Africa, France and America provide the viewer with fascinating views of how mental illnesses are experienced in different parts of the world.” – Fred Frese, Ph.D, Professor in Psychiatry at Northeast Ohio Medical University and National Spokesman on Living With Mental Illness

Hidden Pictures is filmmaker Ruston’s latest masterpiece. I was amazed, sad hopeful, incensed and frequently moved, all in the very places the film sought to inspire those reactions. The film is visually rich, intellectually assertive, and  a gratifying work of art. I believe it has the power to again change lives and indeed save lives, as did Ruston’s earlier film Unlisted: A Story of Schizophrenia.” – David Johnson, CEO of NAVOS: a major mental health service provider in Washington State

“The written word often fails to convey the particular poignancy of people’s lives. Delaney Ruston’s masterfully told stories of individuals and families struggling with mental illness across the world, conveys a profound and visceral appreciation of the myriad effects of such illnesses. Hidden Pictures makes the story of the global burden of mental illness deeply personal and hauntingly memorable” – Marvin Swartz, Professor of Psychiatry, Duke University School of Medicine

 “Ruston’s Hidden Pictures combines a filmmaker’s clear eye, a clinician’s expert knowledge, and a daughter’s empathic voice to tell the stories of people around the world who suffer from serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia, the disease that struck Delaney’s own father and ultimately claimed his life. By opening a window on the diversity of cultural features that shape mental illness in other countries—from the language of its expression to the conditions of social response—Ruston manages to show what is universal about mental illness, and also what is uniquely personal and human in the struggle to recover.” – Jeffrey Swanson, Professor in Behavioral Sciences at Duke University School of Medicine

“Hidden Pictures is the perfect vehicle to open the conversation about the global burden of stigma of mental illness. Using a few very specific stories from far flung parts of our planet Hidden Pictures emotionally engages viewers to explore important challenges of our shared experiences along with effective solutions. I highly recommend this compelling film!” – Bruce Saunders, founder of Movie Mondays in Canada, the internationally acclaimed film series on mental health topics

“I expected Hidden Pictures to touch me deeply as I learned about people from around the world struggling with mental illnesses. I knew I would use it in my professional work and that it would inspire discussion with my students and colleagues. I did not fully expect this film to grip me in such a powerful way; in a way that reinforced our sameness and our deepest desires for the health of our families. I did not expect the flow of tears that were a combination of sorrow and joy as I was privileged to briefly travel with the people who shared their lives in this film. Hidden Pictures has re-energized me to continue my efforts in the fight against stigma surrounding mental illnesses.” – Cinda Johnson, Professor at Seattle Pacific University and Author of Perfect Chaos

“Hidden Pictures in super-powerful. Stigma and discrimination obstruct research, care, and the rights of the mentally ill, and this film has helped involve me in the urgent work of spreading understanding of these issues.” – Brandon Staglin, Communication’s director of  International Mental Health Research Organization

“I appreciated that the stories showcased a broad range of relationships, illnesses, and a global perspective. It is sometimes difficult to tell a story of stigma and discrimination and leave with a sense of hope, but this [filmmaker] did a tremendous job with it.” audience member at CSWE 2013 Film Festival

“Beautiful film. Very educational. Can be used to educate and challenge students’ biases about people with mental illnesses.” – audience member at CSWE 2013 Film Festival

“Very timely subject. [It’s] interesting to see the global implications.”  – audience member at CSWE 2013 Film Festival