‘Vicarious Resilience,’ a documentary short presented by TMI Project and MHA

TMI Project, in partnership with the Mental Health Association in Ulster County, presents the debut of the documentary short film “Vicarious Resilience” at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, May 29, at the Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main St., Rosendale. Since 2012, twice a year, TMI Project has offered 10-week memoir writing and true storytelling workshops specially tailored to meet the needs of the MHA’s population of adults with mental illness. A number of recent studies suggest that writing and sharing stories of trauma can be therapeutic. The workshop is designed to help destigmatize mental illness, while also empowering participants to imagine and work toward the possibility of their own recovery. In 2016, a documentary about this partnership, entitled “Vicarious Resilience,” was shot by North Guild Films. It followed eight participants as they went through the workshop, from the first session, where many expressed doubts and trepidation, to the final storytelling performance before an audience of over 100, and a final follow-up session where they voiced the ways in which they experienced positive transformation. The short documentary highlights the experience of three participants, Morris Bassik, Barbara Stemke and Hayley Downs, as they experience the transformative power of true storytelling. Along the way they face mental illness, childhood neglect and addiction head on and share personal stories about love, loss and triumph. The film screening will be followed by two live true storytelling performances and a panel discussion about storytelling and mental health with representatives from MHA and TMI Project. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. For more information, call 658-8989 or visit rosendaletheatre.org or tmiproject.org.