Open Mind, a Community Lecture and Film Series and Special Events 2009
Sanity & Grace: A Journey of Suicide, Survival, and StrengthDecember 1, 2009Author and singer/songwriter Judy Collins discussed her book about the loss of her son. Her heartfelt story was compelling, inspirational, and life affirming.
Dr. Richard Kadison
College of the Overwhelmed: The Campus Mental Health Crisis and What to do About itApril 21, 2009Dr. Richard Kadison discussed the causes and remedies for the growing problem of often life-threatening emotional issues and mental illness on college campuses
Dr. Tom Graboys
Life in the Balance - A Physician's Memoir of Life, Love, and Loss with Parkinson's Disease and Dementia
Dr. Tom Graboys talked about his inspiring book that deals with his Parkinson's disease and dementia. As both a doctor and a patient he spoke of his appreciation of what it means to be truly alive.
Nick van Bloss
Touched by Genius: A Neurological Look at CreativitySeptember 30, 2009Nick van Bloss discussed his books Touched by Genius and Busy Body about his life with Tourette's Syndrome. He also performed several pieces at the piano. He had stopped performing publicly in 1994 and only started playing again in 2008 at Cadigan Hall in London.
David and Nic Sheff
Tweak and Beautiful Boy
Father and son authors David and Nic Sheff discussed their respective books, Beautiful Boy, about Nic's descent into drug addiction and Tweak, about Nic's own battle with substance abuse and recovery.
Dr. Pete Earley
Crazy: A Father's Search Through America's Mental Health Madness
Author Pete Earley discussed his book, "crazy," which describes his attempts to help his college age son, Mike, after hebecomes ill with bipolar disorder and is arrested. The book also describes a year Earley followed persons with mentaldisorders, who had been in jail, out into the community to see what services they received. A panel discussion involvingmental health and the law followed the lecture.
Dr. David Reuben
Reprieves
The reading of Dr. David Reuben's play "Reprieves". The perspectives of the
patient, family, and physician clash as each struggles with ethical and medical
dilemmas at the end of life. Dr. Reuben is the Archstone Foundation Chair and
Chief of the Division of Geriatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.