Mental Block Films

Mental Block Films is a short-films project focused on mental health representation in media that wants your help. 

Our mission is to break down stigma around mental health journeys and bring diversity and authenticity to media representations. Each short film will focus on one mental illness or mental health issue, such as Bipolar Disorder, OCD, grief, PTSD, and self-care. Each film will be accompanied by resources for support and additional information. We seek to incorporate our personal experiences, professional research, and community conversations into the writing and creative process. This is where you can help!

We will engage in conversations about mental health care journeys through social media platforms as both a resource for people to connect, as well as a way to gain insight into attitudes towards mental health representation in media today. We are seeking diversity and inclusion of voices from all backgrounds. You can help by following us on Facebook  and Instagram @mentalblockfilms, answering prompts, commenting, and sharing. We are currently working on a feature where people will share their experiences, accompanied by a portrait of themselves. We are also looking for individuals who would like to play a role in production, whether you are an actor, filmmaker, sound technician, mental health professional, etc. If you would like to contribute to this project in any way, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at rayburnj@umich.edu. 

*Our project, Mental Block Films, was developed through mentorship from OptiMize,an organization on campus that encourages, develops, and funds student projects. Mental Block Films was fortunate enough to receive funding through this organization.*

 Our Team

Sam Bushi: Cinematographer

June Rayburn: Producer

Sucha Bushi: Director