Mind Over Matter

Amber & Jim
Since transitioning from active duty to veteran status, Amber Viola and Jim McLain have each taken up leadership positions at American Legion Post 274 and are using their respective platforms to build an inclusive community of veterans - shifting the mental health conversation from one of shame and secrecy to one of communal support.

Hiding in Plain Sight
Part 1 - Thursday, January 12th 7pm
Part 2 - Thursday, January 19th 7pm

This series takes a look at the experiences of young people living with mental health conditions with a focus on the importance of awareness and compassion. This series will shine a light on what life looks like for these young people as well as for the parents, teachers, friends, and healthcare providers in their lives.

Veterans: Wounded Within
Thursday, February 9, 7pm

Moderator Tracey Matisak and a panel of regional mental health experts discuss the mental health struggles of our nation's veterans. Hear stories from people who are coping with mental health challenges and find out where to get help. From the WVIA Public Media Studios in Pittston.

Our Time #101 - PTSD and Mental Illness
Thursday, March 16th 7pm

Over one million veterans in the United States are suffering from PTSD. We rarely hear stories about mental illness through the lens of young people whose parents are suffering. Filmmakers Bailey Francisco and Madison Goddard tackle PTSD and bipolar disorder head-on as they recount their experiences and the ways in which they were forced to bear the brunt of their parents' conditions.

Our Time #103 - Teen Mental Health & Suicide Prevention
Thursday, March 16th 7:30pm

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people between the ages of 10 and 24. Filmmakers Madison Legg and Te'a Santos, both 17, discuss the issue in their films Under the Wire and Surviving. Legg confronts her younger brother who recently attempted suicide. After attempting suicide herself, Santos confronts her parents who were forced to admit their daughter into a psychiatric hospital.

Lives Well Lived
Thursday, May 18th 7pm

Lives Well Lived celebrates the incredible wit and wisdom of people aged 75-100, who reveal their secrets for living a meaningful life. Encompassing 3,000 years of collective life experience, diverse people share life lessons about perseverance, the human spirit, and staying positive in the midst of life's greatest challenges. Their stories will make you laugh, perhaps cry, but mostly inspire you. -

Quest of Beauty
Thursday, June 15th 7pm

Our need to fit into a society, to be loved and accepted, create an abyss between who we are and who we become. Cris Saur was bullied in school for being taller and skinnier than the rest of the girls. Later she became a model for the exact same features she was bullied for. The pressure for the perfect look left her with a very low self-esteem, and she only realized how damaged her self-esteem was after being physically abused by a former partner. Her distorted ideas of her role as a woman in our society, topped with her low self-esteem were the main reasons why she stayed so long in the abusive relationship. The abuse followed by depression and panic attacks were the catalyst of her quest for beauty.