What's Eating My Mind: African documentary on Mental Health, Bipolar Disorder & Advocacy

What's Eating My Mind is an intimate and powerful documentary directed by Noelle Luka, a young Kenyan filmmaker who is also its protagonist and the author of the footage. The story begins when Noelle, forced to abandon her university studies in the United States after a psychotic episode, returns to her parents' home in Nairobi. From this point on, the documentary unfolds as both a personal and collective journey, in which the director invites us into her daily life with bipolar disorder, while also offering a broader reflection on mental health in the Kenyan context. Noelle does not limit herself to telling her individual story. Her perspective opens up to the relationships that surround her. Through the voices of her mother, father, and siblings, the film explores the complex and often difficult role of family in supporting a loved one with a mental health condition. One of the most significant aspects of the documentary is the support group that Noelle manages to create, starting from a network of virtual contacts that materialize into real-life meetings. These in-person gatherings become essential: safe spaces where people can speak freely, share experiences, and search together for understanding and healing outside official institutions. It is precisely on this point that What's Eating My Mind takes on a deeply political dimension. The documentary clearly denounces the lack of adequate public assistance, the institutional neglect, and the social stigma that still weigh heavily on those living with mental illness. In a context where the burden of care often falls entirely on the family or is delegated to religious practices, Noelle raises her voice to break the silence and challenge prejudice, turning her film into a tool for advocacy and awareness. Shot in a direct and minimalistic style, the documentary strikes for the authenticity of its gaze. Noelle exposes herself without filters, revealing both her vulnerability and the strength with which she seeks to rebuild her life. Her narration, devoid of rhetoric yet full of humanity, manages to weave together the intimacy of personal testimony with the impact of a broader social critique. What's Eating My Mind is a necessary film, inviting us not only to better understand the realities of mental health, but also to recognize the political value of storytelling, of building networks, and of refusing isolation.

 

Image by Afri docs

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