Relevance to the field of Mental Health
Tyrannosaur is a film about anger and violence that is
portrayed in a painfully realistic way. This anger is embodied both
by an individual, Joseph, who is consumed by rage, and by a couple,
Hannah and James, whose middle class marriage is destroyed
catastrophically by domestic violence. The film eloquently makes
the point that physical and emotional abuse can be found in all
areas of society. Anger is something that will certainly be
encountered by those working in the field of mental health at some
time in their career, if not throughout it, but anger also affects
those working in many other areas of healthcare, including in
general practice. Tyrannosaur gives the viewer the
opportunity to experience, at close hand, anger that is out of
control and in particular gives insight in to the important issue
of intimate partner violence, often hidden from view in apparently
satisfactory relationships.
Those employed in the health and social care
professions are often the first port of call for victims of
domestic violence and it is crucial that professionals are vigilant
about the possibility, and ask the right questions of an individual
who may be subject to partner abuse. A recent editorial in the
British Medical Journal in March 2012, called Responding to
domestic violence in primary care (BMJ
2012;344:e757), highlighted the need for clinicians in
primary care to routinely enquire about intimate partner violence
in order to increase its detection. Further consideration was given
to the topic in an earlier article in the BMJ entitled Violence
between intimate partners: working with the whole family
(BMJ 2008; 337
doi: 10.1136/bmj.a839). The Department of Health
published a document, in 2005, containing guidance on managing
domestic violence (Responding to domestic abuse: a handbook for
healthcare professionals) that can be accessed and downloaded
from the following
link.
A viewing of Tyrannosaur alongside a
reading of these articles and guidance would provide a very good
platform for discussion and learning about the very important issue
of domestic violence. But perhaps the film can also give an
understanding to viewers who have grown up in circumstances largely
free of anger and violence, what it might be like to live in such
an environment. For medical students, lacking a first hand
experience of violence, who may find themselves treating people
from a wide variety of unfamiliar backgrounds, this film may offer
invaluable insights in to some of those foreign territories.
Be warned, this is not an easy film to watch, but
it is well worth the challenge.
• More information about Tyrannosaur is
available at IMDB as is
a short trailer.
• The DVD can be purchased at
amazon.co.uk.
• Minds on Film is written by consultant
psychiatrist Dr Joyce Almeida.
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