French Documentary "On the Adamant" Reminds Us To Talk About Mental Health

A French documentary about a floating barge that provides mental health services took the top prize at the Berlin Film Festival last month, amid rising awareness of the importance of mental health.

The film, “On the Adamant,” is about a floating daycare center for adults in Paris. Besides being a unique story about wellness treatment, the film's success is part of a growing trend of the de-stigmatization of talking about mental health. 

What the Film Tells Us About Mental Health 

Filmed over the course of three years, the documentary tells the story of The Adamant and the patients and caregivers who spend their time there. Stationed on the banks of the Seine in Paris, the facility offers care to people the film's director Nicolas Philibert says are often stigmatized. Philibert told Reuters that the point of the documentary was to capture the humanity of mental health patients and feels “deeply touched” that his documentary won the top prize through a jury vote over a drama or fiction film.  

"Patients in psychiatry are always... considered through the prism of violence and I wanted to reverse the cliché and show how human they are," he said.  

Right now, in the United States, 1 in 5 Americans suffer from mental health problems. And according to statistics from the Department of Health and Human Services, almost half of all American teenagers have experienced mental illness since 2020 including depression and anxiety.  

Dealing With Mental Health  

On the Adamant's victory at the hands of a jury of film critics is not only a nod to its artistic vision as a documentary, but also a sign that people are ready to have difficult conversations about the rise in mental health issues. 

Whether it be at work or in school, there are more people now than ever before who are suffering from mental health disorders. One of the easiest ways that you can gauge your institution’s well-being is through tools like custom forms and surveys that allow you to better tailor an approach to dealing with the issue.  

Kokomo24/7® recognizes that the mental health crisis in the United States and around the world is getting worse and knows that every school and workplace has its own unique set of needs. That’s why we created a robust, yet easy-to-use software platform that streamlines the complex task of implementing mental health resources within your community.  

"I hope it will help to awaken the consciousness of society,” Philibert said in his acceptance speech. And although mental health issues are more prevalent and accepted than ever before, Philibert’s documentary shows us that we still have a long way to go.  

How Kokomo24/7® Can Help  

Talking about mental health can help foster a healthier work environment. Ever since Kokomo24/7® was founded in 2018, we have been a leader in compliance and risk management solutions for all things health and safety. Kokomo24/7® proudly serves schools, communities, and workplaces. Our mission is to deliver highly effective, easy-to-use, and trusted compliance and risk management solutions that bridge the gap between public safety and technology. 

With tools like Kokomo24/7® FORMS, you can send out customized surveys and questionnaires to stay ahead of mental health problems before it’s too late, and better manage your workplace or school’s health, safety and wellness.  

Whether you work for a small school, a Fortune-500 company, or any institution in between, we want to hear from you! To learn more about Kokomo24/7® or to get a free 15-minute demo click the button below.