Menu
Menu
“Our Turn to Talk” Movie & Discussion
A feature documentary with Q&A
Format
Teenagers are putting an end to mental health stigma.
To do it, they’re telling their own stories – unfiltered – in the documentary film and teen-hosted podcast series OUR TURN TO TALK. From skyrocketing rates of anxiety and depression to the impacts of racism, social media, and the pandemic, their struggles and triumphs carry a powerful message: Storytelling saves lives.
Individuals telling their own stories of lived experience has been the foundation of Minding Your Mind programs since 2007. This film employs this effective structure as high school senior Anastasia Vlasova pulls up to the mic to share her story and travels across the country to give other teens a chance to share theirs.
Following a viewing of the movie, a Minding Your Mind clinical presenter will lead a Q&A to engage attendees in discussion on the film’s themes and answer questions brought to light by the film’s participants.
- A total of 90 minutes should be allotted for this program.
- This program works as a school assembly, extended class, team or group gathering, or a community program open to both students and adults.
- This film contains honest conversations between young people about mental health, including suicide and thoughts of self-harm. It is most appropriate for students middle-school aged and above and all adults interested in learning more about teen mental health.
Benefits
- “Our Turn to Talk” Movie & Discussion enables viewers to have candid conversations about critical topics in their own lives and the lives of those they love.
- While some elements may be hard for viewers who share similar stories, the overarching message is one of hope, help, and healing.
- The topics included are handled with care and compassion and meet the standards for language and representation meant to destigmatize mental health issues and to empower and protect young people.
- Having conversations about how people feel, what they struggle with, and what supports they have or need in place to cope with stress saves lives.
Designed For:
Students and adults. Content is appropriate for ages middle school and above.
“The film is beautifully and brilliantly done. It should be incorporated into schools.”
— High School Counselor
Allegheny County, PA
Watch the trailer for "Our Turn to Talk"
BETH MURPHY
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER/WRITER
Beth is mom to an incredible teen daughter and athlete who struggled with depression, anxiety, and an eating disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic. She is also the founder of Principle Pictures, a media and impact company dedicated to storytelling for social impact—through films, podcasts, news reports, and complementary impact campaigns. Her work premiers at top-tier film festivals globally and can be found across national and international media outlets, including PBS (FRONTLINE, POV, Independent Lens and NewsHour), The New York Times Op-Docs, TIME, History Channel, The Sundance Channel, Discovery Networks, Lifetime, ABC News, Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting, The Washington Post, PRI The World, NHK, Canal Vie, and many others. Her honors include: Emmy Award, World Press Photo Award, Overseas Press Club Award, Scripps Howard Award, National Headliner Award, Webby Award, RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award, AWRT’s Gracie Allen Award, One Shared World International Outreach Award, and Alfred I. duPont Columbia University Award.
PATRICE HOWARD
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER/ WRITER
Patrice Howard is a multimedia journalist, documentary filmmaker, and writer
with a passion for sharing stories about people and issues that don’t always make
headlines. She joined Principle Pictures in 2018, where she is producing character-driven documentary films and digital-first stories. She directed and produced Our Turn to Talk, this documentary film focused on teens living—and thriving—with mental illness. She is also a producer on the podcast. Patrice was previously a bureau chief and on-air correspondent for Feature Story News, covering US news for international broadcast and digital networks. She is a graduate of Boston University’s College of Communication and Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism where she received the Video Storytelling Award.
STEPHANIE KHOURY
EDITOR/WRITER
Stephanie Khoury began her career as a storyteller by documenting life through her
drawings and now spends her time collaging moments into films. As a documentary
film editor, she’s worked on several films, long and short, that aim to inspire empathy and understanding. Her work has been published on NPR, The New York Times Op-Docs, National Geographic, and she’s contributed to series for TIME, Vox Media, PBS, and Newest Americans. In 2019, she was named a Karen Schmeer Diversity in the Edit Room Mentee. Stephanie is a graduate of the Documentary Studies and Production program at Ithaca College, where she also minored in Art and Environmental Studies and was honored with the Faculty Award for
Documentary Studies and Production program.