Films

Pat Deegan has created a number of films including:

Inside Outside

From Numbers to Names

The Politics of Memory

Inside Outside: Building a Meaningful Life After the Hospital

This is a work of hope created by ex-patient film-makers Pat Deegan and Terry Strecker. Inside Outside tells the story of how eight people with very significant histories of institutionalization made the transition to recovery and community living. In the spirit of the New Freedom Initiative and the Supreme Court’s Olmstead Decision, the film carries the message that recovery and life in the community are possibilities even for people who are viewed as the most chronic or impaired. The film leaves audiences of professionals and people with psychiatric disabilities alike, cheering for these eight individuals as they make their journey from inside institutions to full community inclusion on the outside. Running Time: 49 minutes

The film Inside Outside has completed the federal government’s clearance process. The film has been made available in the public domain which means you can get a copy for free at the SAMHSA website. People outside of the U.S. may not be qualify for a copy of the film through SAMHSA and occasionally copies run out. An alternative is to purchase a copy at our website.

From Numbers to Names

Co-produced by Pat Deegan, this film tells the story of a group of ex-patients, led by Pat, working together to properly restore the forgotten cemeteries at Danvers State Hospital in Massachusetts. Beneath a tangled jungle of nearly 40 years of overgrowth, these ex-patients found 768 numbered markers representing the final resting place of patients who had died at DSH. The group restored the names and properly memorialized those who had died. In so doing, they defied the stereotypes often associated with psychiatric disability and took their place as civic leaders. The story is ultimately about justice and the power of a group of socially devalued people to help mend the wounds in the fabric of humanity that are the legacy of mass institutionalization. Running Time: 14 minutes

This film has been rejected by the U.S. Government clearance process. However, 49 VHS copies of the film were made available by SAMHSA. If you would like to receive a copy, please email pat@patdeegan.com. In your message, please indicate your organization, how you plan on using the film and your address. Pat is particularly interested in having the film shown by disability rights groups working on state hospital cemetery restoration, by groups who will show the film publicly to raise awareness of stigma and discrimination and/or by groups working on advocating for new, affordable housing gained through the sale of state hospitals. Copies of the film are also available for sale in the DVD format. Contact Deborah@patdeegan.com for information about purchasing the DVD.

The Politics of Memory

The Politics of Memory challenges conventional accounts of the history of mental health services, because that story often ignores the experience, voice and perspective of people receiving services. A closer look reveals that the voice of people diagnosed with mental illness has been tenacious and enduring. This film raises up and celebrates that voice. From first person accounts dating back to 1436, to messages written on the back of old asylum postcards; from initials carved on the walls of seclusion rooms, to pleas for help embroidered onto state hospital sheets; from self-published first-person accounts of asylum injustice, to organized protest: Pat invites all consumers/survivors/ex-patients to discover, recover and celebrate our collective heritage. Running Time: 55 minutes

This film and a leadership discussion guide is available in DVD or VHS format. To view details and purchase this film click here