Bedlam: Documentary & Panel Discussion "Policing Mental Health"

CONNECT Summit County in collaboration with YWCA Utah are teaming up to bring you this powerful two-part event. 

Please join us via Facebook Live on Tuesday, August 18 from 3 to 4 pm to discuss the film, Bedlam, and the current mental health crisis that is reaching epic proportions and has its roots in the well-intentioned, but ultimately disastrous, federal policies that closed long-term mental health care facilities in the 1970’s. The unintended consequences that resulted in the shift from institutionalized care to community care include the appalling rates of E.R. utilization, homelessness, and criminalization of the seriously mentally ill. 

It’s also resulted in the necessity of calling upon law enforcement and the criminal justice system to respond to and address the most serious mental health crisis’ and challenges in our communities. This panel brings together people with diverse experience in trying to create equitable solutions to combat the criminalization of those who suffer from mental illness. This conversation is to encourage community members and policy-makers to have a raw discussion regarding our state’s crisis response.  

Consider watching the free virtual screening, available for 48 hours, of the Sundance Film, BEDLAM: A Documentary. Shot over five years and through intimate stories of patients, families, and medical providers, BEDLAM is a feature-length documentary that immerses us in the national crisis surrounding the care of the severely mentally ill. The virtual screening link, which you get upon registration for this event will be available from Friday, August 14 at 7 pm to Sunday, August 16 at 8 pm. You will be able to watch the film on demand between those dates.

Our Panel includes:

• Aliah Hall, LCSW

• Detective Felicia Sotelo, Summit County Drug Court

• Dr. Anu Asnaani, Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Professor in Psychology, University of Utah

• Julia Loughlin, Educator for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

• Liz Owens, CEO, YWCA Utah

• Moderator, Former Utah State Senator Steve Urquhart

We want to hear from you. On Monday, August 17 we will send out a form where you can submit questions to our panel after seeing the film, or perhaps you already have a burning question. Submit it to Betty Morin at Betty@CONNECTSummitCounty.org, Event Logistics Coordinator today.

CONNECT Summit County is a nonprofit whose mission is to create a well-informed and stigma-free community with access to mental health services for all. We strengthen communities, save families, and change lives.

YWCA Utah is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.