Black People Don’t Get Depressed

Hello,

I hope the sun is shining wherever you are.

My name is Sara Chitambo. I’m an independent filmmaker and communications strategist. I grew up in Zambia, South Africa, and Namibia and currently live in Johannesburg.

This Gogetfunding page is to assist with raising funds for a feature documentary on mental health particularly depression in African communities on the continent and in the diaspora.

The cross-continental film is a vehicle to understanding the directors own clinical depression diagnosis by interacting with different people who are further down the line in terms of their mental health treatment and weaving intimate portraits of participants in Canada, Nigeria, England, and South Africa.

The participants have the commonality of sharing their difficult personal experiences but also the desire to transcend their depression.

Through personal archives and observational filming, the film travels poetically across the diaspora comprehensively depicting and celebrating the participants' joys, resilience, beauty, and survival despite the odds.

This film is born out of frustration that mental health is largely misunderstood in African communities and those managing mental health issues are relegated to a nuisance, weak, attention-seeking or simply mad. Our treatment and medical options are limited and social needs remain largely neglected.

The film challenges the stigma of mental health in black communities and asks us to shift our perceptions of sanity, dignity, and well-being.

Once the film is complete we will be doing impact work with NGO www.waves-for-change.org who use water and surf therapy to assist youth from Khayelitsha and other townships with their trauma and mental health conditions.

We have raised 30% of the budget required to date and are still fundraising with different film stakeholders.

The 30% we are fundraising here will go towards our post-production which will cover:

• Editor and editing facilities
• Video Grading
• Sound recording for voice-overs
• Final sound Mix
• Motion Graphics

We kindly ask you to share this page and donate what you can, thank you for your generosity.

Warmly,

Sara

CONTACT: Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +27725342048

Meet The Team: