A new documentary exploring the relationship between childhood trauma and mental health diagnoses is set to have its Irish and Northern Irish premieres in Dublin and Belfast next month.
Traumality, an independently produced film by filmmaker Ton Mazzone, examines the evidence linking childhood adversity, attachment, trauma and chronic stress with experiences that are commonly understood through the framework of mental illness.
The Irish premiere will take place at the Lighthouse Cinema in Dublin on Wednesday, October 21, followed by the Northern Ireland premiere at The MAC in Belfast on Thursday, October 22. Both screenings will be followed by panel discussions and audience Q&A sessions.
Bringing together researchers, clinicians, trauma specialists and people with lived experience, the 96-minute film questions the dominance of the medical model and its focus on diagnosis and symptom management.
At the heart of the film is a shift in the question asked of people experiencing psychological distress moving away from what is supposedly wrong with a person and towards understanding about what has happened to them during their developing years.
Mazzone said the film grew out of his own experiences of the mental health system after struggling with anxiety, social anxiety and depression. While he received diagnoses he said the question of why he was experiencing them was rarely addressed.
The documentary examines Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), attachment and the ways trauma can affect the developing brain, nervous system, physical health and relationships. It also considers what a genuinely trauma-informed approach might mean not only within mental health services, but across education, workplaces, communities and other public services.
The Dublin premiere is being organised by Alcohol Action Ireland and takes place at the Lighthouse Cinema, Smithfield, from 6pm to 8.30pm on Wednesday, October 21.
The Belfast premiere is being hosted by The Sunshine Project, with Anthea Smyth and Victoria Nicol, at The MAC, 10 Exchange Street West, from 6.30pm to 9.30pm on Thursday, October 22.
Tickets available through Eventbrite. Further information about the documentary is available from the Traumality website.