Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story Review

When it comes to history, there are two kinds of stories. The first is a staid and boring set of facts that are straight out of an academic textbook. The second brings the past to life in a way that engages and excites the audience.

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story was released last weekend on Netflix. This prequel to Bridgerton takes place in two different timelines. In the present, Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) is dealing with a crisis on two fronts. Her only legitimate grandchild and heir, Princess Caroline of Wales, has died in childbirth, taking her newborn with her. With all of her other grandchildren born outside of the bonds of wedlock, it looks as if the line will die with this generation.

The narrative then flashes back to the past and a 17-year-old Charlotte (India Amarteifio). She is about to marry George III of England (Corey Mylechreest), a man who she has never met. It appears that their marriage has the external trappings of a fairy tale. But not everything is as wonderful as it seems.

Her only confidant is Lady Danbury (played by Arsema Thomas as a young woman and Adjoa Adoh as an older woman).

I binged watched the series last weekend. It is so good. It gives the audience the opportunity to know Charlotte as a human being, not just as Queen who is always surrounded by her courtiers.

My favorite aspects of the program are the female gaze of the camera and it’s humane approach to mental illness. Being that May is Mental Health Awareness Month, I appreciate the efforts of the screenwriters. George’s mental health problems are treated with respect and understanding which is still sadly lacking.

My only problem was that Violet Bridgerton‘s (played by Connie Jenkins-Greig as a girl and Ruth Gemmell as an adult) is an afterthought. I understand that she is the youngest of matriarchs in this world. But it would have been nice to see a little more of her.

Do I recommend it? Absolutely.

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story is currently streaming on Netflix.

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Flashback Friday: Inside Out: (2015)

One of the most validating experiences a child can have is when adults recognize and validate their emotions. It has the power to affect the rest of their lives and hopefully prevent future mental illness.

The 2015 Disney/Pixar animated film Inside Out follows a young girl named Riley (Kaitlyn Dias). Her life is turned upside down when her parents move the family from the Midwest to San Franciso. Her emotions are guided by Joy (Amy Poehler), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black), Phyllis Smith (Sadness), and Disgust (Mindy Kaling).

I was blown away by the film. I recognized myself in Riley, having also moved as a young woman, and understanding what it means to start over in a new school and a new community. I have vivid memories of feeling very awkward, unsure, and a little scared.

Instead of getting on the proverbial soapbox on the importance of mental health, the narrative guides viewers of all ages into the conversation of emotions and how important it is to talk about how we are feeling.

Do I recommend it? Absolutely.

It Wouldn’t Be a Monday in America Without a Mass Shooting

There is something about a new day and a new week that speak of the possibilities that life holds.

This morning, a bank in Louisville opened as it does every Monday morning. By 10am, 5 people were killed by an employee wielding a gun. Adding salt to the wound, one of the dead was a friend of Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.

According to reports, the killer (who is now deceased and shall remain nameless on this blog) was live-streaming. He was also dealing with mental illness.

When is this madness going to stop? I hate to ask this, but is it going to take the murder of a loved one of a politician who puts guns over lives to wake this country up? I am by no stretch of any imagination, advocating for anyone else to die. I just want this to stop. I want responsible gun owners to maintain their rights while keeping us safe.

Two weeks ago, six people (three kids and three adults) were killed in Nashville. That makes 11 innocent lives taken in two weeks for no f*cking reason. I am starting to wonder if we will need to go through airport style security for the most basic of activities.

Of course, some people will argue that being mentally ill was the reason for the massacre. Regardless of whether this is true or not, finger-pointing will not solve the problem. The only resolution is to enact national common sense gun laws.

I don’t know about anyone else, but it feels like I am taking my life into my hands every time I leave my home.

Nowhere in America IS safe.
Not at school.
Not a place of worship.
Not a movie theater.
Not a parade.
Not a concert.
Not at a nightclub.
Not at a bank.#WokeAF

— Danielle Moodie (@DeeTwoCents) April 10, 2023

We know what has to be done. The answer is standing in front of us. What I fear is that we will continue to ignore the obvious in favor of the bullshit lies and manipulation.

The Manslaughter Charge Against the Oxford Shooter’s Parents Sends a Message That All Parents Should Heed

When a parent sends their child to school in the morning, they send them knowing that the place will keep their kid safe and educate them. They do not send them to die at the hand of a fellow student.

In November of 2021, four young people were murdered by one of their own at Oxford High School in Michigan. Earlier this week, the parents of this boy (who will remain nameless on this blog) were charged with involuntary manslaughter.

Though this particular event was one in a long list of murders in an educational setting, it is the first time that the parents of the minor charged will face charges themselves.

As I have said before, I have nothing against guns. It’s not my cup of tea, but that’s ok. What I am against is this loosey-goosey vision of the 2nd amendment in which the lives of the average person are less important than the firearm itself or the NRA.

Granted, the child accused of killing his classmates was 15 at the time. By that age, most parents (hopefully) give some amount of autonomy to their offspring. However, he is still underage, and his parent’s responsibility. Unless they were living under a rock, they had to know what was going on with their son. The signs of mental illness are not unknown to us. Neither is the ability to secure one’s weapons and keep them away from small hands.

Obviously, no one can predict what the verdict will be. That being said, I can only hope that the message is loud and clear to anyone who calls themselves/is referred to as a parent.

I Admire John Fetterman For Speaking Out About His Depression Diagnosis

When it comes to mental health and mental illness, speaking the truth out loud is difficult. Especially if you are in the public eye.

Last week, Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman checked himself into a hospital for clinical depression. The statement from his office is as follows:

“While John has experienced depression off and on throughout his life, it only became severe in recent weeks.”

I admire Senator Fetterman for recognizing that he needs help. There are far too many who either refuse to acknowledge their illness or turn to alcohol or drugs to numb their feelings. Of course, it goes without saying that the right will use this opportunity to knock him down.

BREAKING: Senator John Fetterman just checked himself into the hospital to treat his clinical depression.

MAGA is going to have a field day with this. But they're wrong.

This is one of the bravest things I've ever seen a sitting politician do.

— Jon Cooper (@joncoopertweets) February 16, 2023

I admire the Senator for doing what he had to do. Though he is putting his needs first, he is also speaking to and for the millions of us who live with this disease. If he can be brave enough to step up and ask for assistance, than the rest of us can.

RIP tWitch

For many living with mental illness, the only way out is suicide.

Earlier this week, Stephen “tWitch” Boss, best known as the DJ for the Ellen DeGeneres Show took his own life. He was 40.

The thing about mental health issues is that they are not obvious. It’s not the same as wearing a cast for a month to heal a broken leg. Just because someone is smiling on the outside does not mean that there isn’t a torrent of emotions on the inside. I think there are a lot of people who try to understand, but they really don’t.

It is often seen as the only way to get rid of the pain. As difficult as that is to comprehend, it is the truth. I don’t know why he did what he did. But it was obviously a sign of deeper issues that remained unresolved.

I wish that he had talked to someone before making the ultimate decision. Whatever he was going through, he felt like there was one way to make it stop.

My heart goes out to the people who knew his best. May his memory be a blessing. Z”L.

If you are feeling suicidal, please call 988 or your local crisis helpline. Your life is worth it.

Thoughts On the Forced Hospitalization of the Homeless and Mentally Ill in NYC

Homelessness is one of those issues that seems both simple and difficult to explain and confront. Sometimes, it can be boiled down to a single problem. Other times, there are several threads that lead to one living on the streets.

Last week, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced a plan in which homeless persons who show signs of severe mental illness will be forced to go into the hospital.

On paper, this plan sounds reasonable. However, there are logistic questions that must be addressed.

1. Do the hospitals have the beds and staff to handle this potentially large influx of patients?
2. Will the doctors and nurses have access to the medical histories of the individuals so they can treat them properly?
3. Who exactly will be on the teams that locate these people? Will it be clinicians and police? In case the encounter becomes dangerous, law enforcement may need to step in. Given their history, just charging in guns blazing is not the best option.
4. Upon release from medical facilities, will these people have access to the services they need?

Obviously, the details have to be ironed out and it goes without saying that it will not all be smooth sailing in the beginning. But I have to admire Mayor Adams for trying. Something is always better than nothing.

Stutz Movie Review

Talk therapy is one of the most common forms of working through mental illness. Speaking to a therapist allows one to air their grievances (so to speak) in an emotionally healthy manner.

The new Netflix documentary Stutz is a conversation between actor Jonah Hill and his psychiatrist, Phil Stutz. Over the course of 136 minutes, both men spill their guts (figuratively speaking). Hill talks about being known as a plus-sized actor and the downside of fame. Stutz delves into his past and how his own trauma has gotten him to this point in his life.

This film is fantastic. I loved the honesty of both men. Filmed in mostly black and white, it speaks to the power of the importance of respecting mental health. As someone who has been grappling with it for many years, I related to Hill and his struggles. I also appreciated Stutz’s approach to working with his patients and helping them to achieve their goals.

Do I recommend it? Absolutely.

Stutz is available for streaming on Netflix.

The Light We Carry Book Review

It is easy to get caught up in the daily grind and many headlines coming from the evening news. Before we know it, the stress and negativity start to creep in and our outlook starts to change for the worse.

Michelle Obama‘s new book, The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times, was published this month. While reflecting on her own life and challenges, the former First Lady asks big questions that do not have an easy answers. In doing so, she talks about the people and skills that have helped her to get through the various obstacles that have stood in her way. Building on a life of experience, she encourages the reader to tackle the stumbling blocks in their own lives and find their happiness.

This is classic Michelle Obama: funny, down-to-earth, honest, and humble.

Though she does not speak directly about mental health, there are aspects of the book that can help with this illness in its various forms. Instead of bullshitting or providing pie-in-the-sky answers, her approach is simple and relatable. As someone who has been living with mental illness for years, I appreciated her outlook. It is refreshing in a world that could easily bring us down.

Do I recommend it? Yes.

The Light We Carry is available wherever books are sold.

We Send Our Kids to School to Learn, Not to Die

When I was younger and in school, the purpose of the experience was to receive an education. It was not to be target practice for someone who had no business having access to firearms.

On Tuesday, a young man walked into a high school in St. Louis and started shooting. Two lives were lost, a teacher and a fifteen-year-old student. The shooter was killed by police.

The family of this boy claims that they did everything when it came to his mental health problems.

The point, as I see it, has once more been proven. Did this boy have a mental illness? The evidence, as we have it so far, points to yes. However, that does not preclude the fact that this tragedy and others of its ilk are and were preventable.

I would love to know why a civilian needs access to an AR-15. This is why we need common-sense gun control laws. If this child has not been able to get his hands on that weapon, then both of his victims would still be alive.

May their memories be a blessing. Z”L.

P.S. The girl who was killed was less than a month away from her 16th birthday. For anyone who thinks that we do not need to legislate against gun violence should consider this fact before stating that there is no need for measures of this kind.