Perhaps the best part of the 1997 movie Good Will
Hunting, occured when psychologist Sean McGuire
(played by Robin Williams) asked Will Hunting (played
by Matt Damon) this oh so simple question:
"What do you want to do?"
Will is completely stumped. Mortified, I might add.
Will, who we've come to know as a quick, but negative
street philosopher of sorts, is left still hanging on
for dear life when the good Sean McGuire asks him this
additional zinger:
"What are you passionate about?"
Sean is a masterful psychologist. He illustrates with
such grace and skill what the mental health profession
ought to attempt to mirror. Sean looked at troubled
Will compassionately, but wasn't going to let him off
the hook. Sean had to make Will grow the only way that
would actually free him of his fatal flaw: Will would
have to think about what he wanted to do with his life
and what he would become passionate about.
While I'm no psychologist by degree or "legal"
training, this I know as fact: no matter how trying it
became with Will, Sean would not have even dreamed of
"drugging" his patient to help him "focus" on
questions we all as members of the human race have to
figure out on our own.
So, why am I rambling on about a movie released back
in 1997? What's the issue?
A few nights ago, I'm watching Good Will Hunting on
the BRAVO channel. Again, a movie that showed in so
many different ways with good Sean McGuire and Will
Hunting - what a real therapy relationship ought to
look like. I really believe the movie is a much needed
slap in the mental health profession's - face.
I'm enjoying an adult beverage, and here we go with
the Adult ADD commercials. Each break in the movie
contained one Eli Lilly advertisment, I mean
commercial for Strattera, the new non-stimulant drug
to treat the alleged mental disorder of not being able
to "focus" at "work" or with your "family." Turned
about to be at least eight Strattera commercials
during Good Will Hunting.
I think we all need to send BRAVO a few dollars so
they're no longer dependent on Eli Lilly's lies about
the American family and the ability to focus we all
seem to lack to the point of needing medication.
Honestly, these commercials made me feel nausea and
worry about being restless, and I am not even an adult
or a pre-schooler on Strattera. For commercials to air
that sell drugs to help aid children and adults deal
with one another in a family setting, especially
during a movie like Good Will Hunting, is a telling
sign of how pathetic we have become.
Good Will Hunting should be required viewing for
everyone in the mental health industry licensed to
prescribe Strattera. Not to mention, the top brass at
the BRAVO channel itself.
Surely, we will all yell (bravo!) when mental health
professionals who have prescription pads burning in
their pockets, and pharmaceutical executives come to
understand, we need more Sean McGuire's in this
country.
Not to mention, more young people who know what they
want to do and what they are passionate about.
Zizza is a freelance writer based in Atlanta who
writes frequently about mental health issues.
Email comments to him at:
tz777@yahoo.com
