Ashburn Mental Health Non-Profit Hosts Film Event

The Ashburn-based mental health non-profit This Is My Brave will celebrate five years of storytelling with the debut of a new documentary short film and a screening event at the Arlington Cinema 'N' Drafthouse January 31 at 6:30pm.

In the film, director Beth Murphy chronicles the experiences of Co-Founder Jennifer Marshall and four This Is My Brave cast members, people who are living and thriving with mental illness, as they prepare to share their personal stories live onstage for the first time. The January 31 event will include a Q&A with the filmmaker and This Is My Brave representatives following the screening. The first 100 people to purchase tickets will receive a complimentary $10 food and beverage voucher (not valid on alcohol).

EVENT DETAILS
This Is My Brave Mini-Documentary Debut
January 31, 6:30-8:30pm
Arlington Cinema 'N' Drafthouse
2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA
Tickets $10 each; to purchase visit http://bit.ly/BRAVEMINIDOC

One in five American adults face mental health issues (National Institute of Mental Health), yet the topic continues to carry shame. Founded in 2014, TIMB is a national mental health nonprofit organization dedicated to ending this stigma and silence by celebrating the stories of real people living successful lives, with mental health challenges. Community members from cities and towns all over the U.S. and Australia share true stories about their personal challenges and triumphs with mental illness and health. These live storytelling events open a dialogue and create new opportunities for participants and audiences to thoughtfully engage around the topic of mental health.

Since its first show in 2014 in Arlington, VA, This Is My Brave: The Show has featured over 665 people sharing their stories in 55 performances across the United States and in Australia. Performances encompass perspectives on any form of mental illness including depression, anxiety, OCD, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, schizophrenia, PTSD, and more. Stories are shared through spoken word essay, poetry, dance, or original song; caregivers and loved ones are also encouraged to participate.

After performances, This Is My Brave continues to support storytellers through a strong online network of fellow cast members. Stories are filmed at every show, shared online via YouTube, and alumni will often share updates and written pieces through TIMB. Programs will continue to expand in 2019 with new Boston-based university pilot program, a podcast, and the release of this new short documentary.

This film project was supported, in part, by an ALKERMES Inspiration Grant.

ABOUT THIS IS MY BRAVE
This Is My Brave was co-founded by Jennifer Marshall and Anne Marie Ames (1958-2017), two women passionate about ending the stigma surrounding mental illness. In 2014, TIMB hosted its first ever live show in Arlington, VA, Over the past five years, the nonprofit organization has hosted performances across the United States and in Australia, including Greenville, SC; Orlando, FL, Valparaiso, IN (Chicagoland); Denver, CO; Iowa City, IA; Washington, DC; Baltimore, MD; Los Angeles, CA; Boston, MA; Kansas City, MO; Wheeling, WV; Boise, ID; New York, NY; and beyond. In 2019, TIMB will celebrate five years of brave storytelling. For more information about This Is My Brave, visit www.ThisIsMyBrave.org or http://youtube.com/thisismybrave.