Northwell Health Featured in New HBO Original Two-Part Documentary, “One South: Portrait of a Psych Unit”

After its world premiere at DC/DOX Film Festival in Washington, D.C., the new two-part documentary film will be available on June 25 on Max

Offering never-before-seen access to a unique college-age inpatient psychiatric unit, HBO will premiere a two-part documentary titled One South: Portrait of a Psych Unit, featuring Northwell Health, New York’s largest health system, on HBO’s streaming platform Max starting Tuesday, June 25 at 9 p.m. EDT.

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HBO will premiere a new two-part documentary titled One South: Portrait of a Psych Unit, featuring Northwell Health, on HBO’s streaming platform Max starting Tuesday, June 25 at 9 p.m. EDT. (Credit: HBO)

Directed and produced by Gidalya Pictures Peabody Award-winner Alexandra Shiva (“How to Dance in Ohio,” “This Is Home”) and Lindsey Megrue (“This Is Home”), the two-part documentary is an intimate glimpse into the daily lives of patients and clinical staff. Both parts take place at Northwell’s Zucker Hillside Hospital, Queens, NY, one of the few inpatient units in the United States dedicated to college students struggling with mental health. The film captures the trajectory of hospitalization, from admission to discharge, documenting therapy sessions, mindfulness activities, and the bonds formed among patients and the staff.

“The One South documentary is an intimate, first-hand journey into the struggle of young adults navigating treatment for various mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and personality disorders,” said Laura Braider, PhD, clinical psychologist, associate vice president of behavioral health at Northwell Health. “These college-aged patients often arrive at our One South unit following suicide attempts or suicidal thoughts, and we hope this documentary shines a light on their journey to hope and finding a life worth living. These are issues being faced by millions of people worldwide, which require tremendous efforts of dedicated medical teams.”

One in 10 young Americans struggle with mental illnesses. Some of the stories we see and hear in One South reflect that, including a young woman whose anxiety is woven tightly by academic pressures, a young man wrestling with the weight of depression post-overdose, and a first-generation college student haunted by thoughts of suicide. Highlighting the critical need for effective mental health care initiatives, One South is a timely narrative infused with hope. It delves into the emotional landscape of healing, with the aspiration for patients to carry forward newfound insights, coping mechanisms, and treatment plans as they transition to life beyond the unit, fostering a path of mental health and recovery.

“Human stories are what drive awareness of issues and change. Thanks to the courage and bravery of these young adults for allowing us to share their journey and to the dedicated staff at Northwell, we can understand the hard work, dedication, and compassion it takes to help these young adults in need and how much more work needs to be done to address mental health in this country,” said Ramon Soto, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at Northwell. “We are grateful to Alexandra, Lindsey and HBO for helping share these powerful stories to inspire hope in those who need it.”

Venturing into the world of purpose-driven storytelling, since 2019, Northwell has participated in five documentaries and one national TV special, all of which have resulted in six Emmy Awards, an Academy Award nomination and tens of millions of hours watched. These include:

• Lenox Hill, Netflix
• First Wave, National Geographic
• Two Wars, Northwell
• Emergency NYC, Netflix
• One South, HBO
• Side by Side: A Celebration of Service, NBC special

“Every movement that creates waves of positive change begins with storytelling, empathy, and people working together,” said Michael Dowling, president & CEO of Northwell Health. “One South offers a window into the lives of young adults navigating the complexities of mental health challenges, all while generating awareness and dialogue to help many more people in need and support the staff on the front lines.”

Northwell’s Behavioral Health College Partnership (BHCP), of which Dr. Braider is AVP, works closely with 96 affiliated New York state colleges and universities and their student counseling centers to address the acute behavioral health issues impacting undergraduate and graduate students. BHCP provides state-of-the-art, evidence-based evaluation and treatment for psychiatric crises and their aftermath and addresses diverse challenges ranging from adjustment problems to major disorders that often emerge during the transition to college life. The relationships with schools and knowledge of their practices allow our staff to offer specialty consultation services to students regarding common concerns related to academic status, school absences and school re-entry processes. These liaison services allow for more transitions in treatment, resulting in less disruption in the academic cycle. This collaborative care has become a model all over the country for psychiatric treatment for college students affected by acute mental health issues. For more information about BHCP, click here.

About Northwell Health

Northwell Health is New York State’s largest health care provider and private employer, with 21 hospitals, about 900 outpatient facilities and more than 12,000 affiliated physicians. We care for over two million people annually in the New York metro area and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our communities. Our 85,000 employees – 18,900 nurses and 4,900 employed doctors, including members of Northwell Health Physician Partners – are working to change health care for the better. We’re making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. We're training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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