GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – 14th March 2024
In the framework of the 55th UN Human Rights Council sessions in Geneva, an impact screening of Norwegian director Ellen Ugelstad’s docu-fiction feature “The Recovery Channel” drew new attention to the importance of centering human rights in mental health treatment and care, and urged states to uphold international standards and guidelines on this issue.
The screening, which took place ahead of “The Recovery Channel”’s International Premiere at Copenhagen International Film Festival (CPH:DOX) next week, was the first time the film has been shown internationally.
Mental health is a major topic of conversation in our homes, on our screens and at the highest levels of international governance. “The Recovery Channel” takes this conversation one step further, transcending conventional documentary norms by adopting the fictional construct of a television news channel that reports exclusively on mental health to shed light on the prevalent use of coercive practices in Norway’s psychiatric care system.
Drawing from her personal experience with her brother’s enduring battle, Ugelstad’s artistic film approach cleverly reveals the injustices in the modern mental health system and the transformative effect on society that accurate and positive media representation of mental health realities can bring.
Executive Producer and Impact Producer on the film, Amy Shepherd, said: “This unique film represents the power of honest and creative storytelling to change society.”
The impact screening in Geneva was co-hosted by the Geneva Graduate Institute Global Health Platform at the Global Health Centre and the Human Rights Platform, the Permanent Mission of Norway to the United Nations Office in Geneva and Think-Film Impact Production. It had as its aim to reposition mental health as not just as a medical issue but a human rights concern.
Norway’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva, Ambassador Tormod C. Endresen, gave opening remarks. He said that he was glad of the opportunity to learn more about this complex topic, and that he felt the film will trigger important questions. He drew particular attention to the World Health Organization and UN Human Rights Commission’s recently jointly published guidance document on this topic, and commented that he would “make sure the relevant authorities in Oslo take a look at these guidelines”, as well as raising them with other governments around the world.
“The Recovery Channel” world premiere will take place on Monday 18th March 2024, in Copenhagen.
Media Contact: Yik Kei Leung, Impact Strategist – yikkei.leung@tfip.org
