Kudos to film festival for focussing on mental health

Representation Pic

Kashish film festival, a premier Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer (LGBTQ) festival, which opens in the city on May 15, will see 133 films being screened from 46 countries. The festival will see a newly instituted award for the best Indian film on mental health.

This is more than an award; this is an acknowledgement about mental health in the community and beyond. It is giving mental health its rightful place in the creative spectrum. From so many members of the LGBT community who have died by suicide, as they were dealing with huge challenges while coming to terms with their sexuality, to forced conversions, the abuse faced is not always purely physical.

The queer community has, through its spokespersons, talked about the frightening mental toll of leading a double life. Constrained to be ‘straight' many times, they are torn inside. There is self-hate.
Families may have shunned them. Even if not physically hurt, members of the LGBT community are subjected is abuse and blackmail, which chip away at self-esteem. While the community's mental struggles do make it to the news at times, much more awareness is needed.

Showing the importance of mental health through movies that are mature and nuanced is an enlightening move. The award says that we recognise the wrongs, we are here to acknowledge them and we award you for trying to bring them to public consciousness - in the way you know best, through the cinematic medium.

Taboos surrounding mental health generally will fall away, replaced by robust discussion, understanding and action when the subject is highlighted through different fora. More power to picking up the burning coals and touching topics that were swept under the rug, or never brought up earlier.