One South: Portrait of a Psych Unit is an HBO documentary about life inside an in-patient facility in Queens that specializes in helping people of college age who are in acute crisis. The filmmakers, Alexandra Shiva and Lindsay Megrue, introduce a variety of patients who have been through experiences such as suicide attempts or drug overdoses and they spotlight the unique care being administered. In-patient care has certainly been depicted often in movies and TV but this is one of few documentary approaches. Then, we’re joined by Sarah Souder Johnson, a clinician at Sentier Psychotherapy in Saint Paul, Minnesota who offers therapy for rock bands. We talk about the challenges and rewards of that and what it can teach all of us about families and groups even if we’re not a wicked guitar soloist.

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Help is available right away.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 or 1-800-273-8255, 1-800-273-TALK

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741.

International suicide hotline numbers available here: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines

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John’s acclaimed memoir, The Hilarious World of Depression, is now available in paperback. https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250209566/thehilariousworldofdepression

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