On Sunday, October 12th from noon to 3 pm, in honor of Mental Illness Awareness Week, over 400 people registered for FREE tickets for the first California screening matinee at the Orinda Theater of the powerful documentary, No One Cares About Crazy People by filmmaker Gail Freedman and hosted by NAMI Contra Costa, with co-sponsors The Miles Hall Foundation, Psynergy, and NAMI California. This film takes you deep inside the chaos and crisis of severe mental illness (SMI) in America—where families struggle, systems fail, and yet hope and resilience endure.
No One Cares About Crazy People takes audiences deep inside the tragedy, chaos, and systemic failures surrounding severe mental illness in America. Inspired by Pulitzer Prize- and Emmy Award–winning author Ron Powers’ acclaimed book, the film sheds light on both personal heartbreak and the growing movement for mental health reform. Through unforgettable stories—including Powers’ own family’s devastating loss and the over three decade struggle of Mark Rippee, blind, psychotic, and unhoused on the streets of Vacaville—viewers witness the urgent need for change.
The film also amplifies the voices of advocates like Taun Hall, whose son Miles was killed by police in 2019 in Walnut Creek, CA during a mental health crisis, galvanizing a movement that led to California’s landmark Miles Hall Lifeline Act (AB988) and the 24/7 A3: Miles Hall Crisis Call Center in Contra Costa County.
The documentary traces California’s emergence as a center for reform, following State Senator Susan Eggman’s legislative efforts and Governor Gavin Newsom’s engagement with the issue. Shot over four years, the film offers an unflinching look at a national crisis—while leaving audiences with a sense of hope and possibility.
This event also featured an in-depth panel discussion with Gigi Crowder moderating as Gail Freedman and local Bay Area families, who are the film’s key characters featured in the film and whose stories deeply resonated with the audience, spoke. Lastly, thank you Rep. Mark DeSaulnier for your advocacy on behalf of those living with SMIs.
The journey continues. We care about those living with mental illness. By attending, we stood in solidarity with impacted families and help spark change. This was more than a film screening—it’s a movement. Your presence is a statement: this is our moment, and this is our movie. We hope the film opens the eyes of people who are in a position to make the necessary changes.
