Asian Americans are less likely to access services for mental health, despite being one of the largest populations struggling with depression and suicidal ideation. This short film explores a conversation between a mother and her child, with the goal of starting more conversations about this issue.
That I’m not going to get into the university that you want me to get into.
And you know what hurts the most?
All you ever ask about is school, and my grades.
When was the last time you asked me how I was doing?
I just have this fear building every time you ask me about school,
about, you know when you talk about going to university.
As if I don’t already know.
I just feel like, what’s the point of it all?
What’s the point of living?
I don’t know why I feel this way.
I feel alone,
You are not alone.
I feel like I don’t want to be here.
Director: Gordon Yao
Gordon Yao is a resident physician and filmmaker who strongly believes that visual storytelling is one of the most effective ways of bridging barriers of communication. As an Asian American immigrant himself, Gordon hopes to utilize film as a tool to help immigrants navigate difficult healthcare related topics, including mental health. The topic is especially personal to Yao who, as a medical student, has witnessed fellow med students die by suicide each year that he has been studying.
Joanne Mau is a filmmaker and radio host with a passion for creative storytelling, drawn to projects that use multimedia to communicate new ideas, images, and messages that create change. In 2013, Joanne and Gordon co-directed an award winning short film at the Toronto Urban Film Festival (TUFF), receiving the honour of the City of Toronto Award for Emerging Filmmakers!
Jennifer Kim is a nurse and pianist whose experiences in the healthcare field gave her an interest in using music to retell patient stories. Henry Shaw stars in the film and is in his final year as a student at McGill University in Montreal. Henry recognizes that everyone’s story is worth exploring and applauds efforts to promote diverse stories expressed in film.
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