Anxious Nation, a new documentary that takes a deep look into the crisis of anxiety and mental health in America, especially its crippling impact on kids and families, will host a worldwide, premiere livestream event on May 3, 2023. The riveting and introspective feature documentary is directed by Academy Award© winner Vanessa Roth (Freeheld), and co-directed, written and produced by 21-time New York Times Bestselling Author and first-time filmmaker, Laura Morton. This global rally uniting people around the world will include a film screening and important conversations with leading voices and experts of the mental health movement, including Executive Producer Kathy Ireland, Roth, Morton and cast members Tim Storey and Lynn Lyons along with other special guests to be announced. Anxious Nation explores and captures the many faces and facets of anxiety. The film delves into the crisis of mental health and anxiety in America, while focusing on subjects ages 11-26 and their families. This unabashedly honest and insightful film provides audiences with a raw and intimate look into the lives of families and kids grappling with anxiety and the duality of how their parents are trying to understand and help. The filmmakers and Ireland, all moms themselves, tenderly share the vulnerability of these families in an effort to help others who are currently struggling with similar issues in private. “Anxiety does not discriminate, it affects people from every different culture and socio-economic background, and the film portrays this through its diverse stories. Our kids are in crisis and it’s only getting worse,” said Morton, whose daughter Sevey is one of the teens spotlighted in the documentary and is the inspiration behind the project. According to a recent CDC report, nearly three in five or (57%) of US teen girls feel persistently sad or hopeless, a 60% increase and the highest level reported over the past decade. Another troubling statistic is that 100% of teens have expressed an increase in mental health challenges. These are just two of many stats that are defining the need for a call to action for our children. On May 3rd, in partnership with event-based theatrical distributor Area 23a and Lasega Films, Anxious Nation will host a world premiere virtual screening of the film along with an intimate conversation to follow in the Anxious Nation Virtual Cinema, which will feature a “virtual wall” where people can anonymously leave messages 24/7 about how are they are feeling and maintain a true connection with the Anxious Nation community. Moviegoers can access the virtual cinema through www.AnxiousNation.com. “We’ve created a worldwide urgent call to action for families and communities to come together both virtually and in-person, to discuss key issues surrounding anxiety,” said Morton. “As the parent of an anxious teenager, I thought I was failing my daughter. If we were struggling, I couldn’t imagine how other families were navigating the crisis of anxiety. We made this film to explore how anxiety shows up, why and what we can do about it. As a family, we needed hope and strategies that reinforced progress over permanence. While we can’t cure anxiety, we can educate ourselves and learn to harness anxious energy for good.” "It is humbling and critical to present this revolutionary film,” said Ireland. Although anxiety, depression, and mental health challenges have been documented since antiquity, the recent escalation is unprecedented, especially among our most vulnerable population--our youth. Vanessa Roth and Laura Morton courageously shine a bright bold light on something that all too often families struggle with silently. We are eager for this film to be viewed by people everywhere, as we believe that precious lives will be changed and in some instances, saved by the beautiful truth, transparency and innovative thinking of this film. Presenting this film is deeply personal, and from my heart." “We have collectively been hit by so much loss, sorrow, fear and uncertainty, especially these past few years, and we as the adults have not been able to assure our kids that there will be light at the end of this rough time,” said Roth. We have never navigated the world they are inheriting so they are on their own to chart a path that only they can lead, but I’ll do the best I can as a mom, knowing I don't have all the answers. I hope that by contributing what I could to making this film that our kids feel seen, heard and supported; and that we as a society make the urgent changes needed to give them all the resources to create community and meaning for themselves and their future.” “The families in Anxious Nation portray the global face of anxiety, and now audiences across the world will be able to share in their stories and find comfort in knowing that they are not alone in their struggle against anxiety,” said Kirt Eftekhar, owner of Area 23a. “The virtual livestream event and Anxious Nation Virtual Cinema provides accessibility to the film and discussion to people worldwide, something we are proud to share and help as this film is relatable to the masses.” Following the May 3 event, Anxious Nation will open in select theaters nationwide and will be digitally available through the Anxious Nation Virtual Cinema on May 5, 2023. The film premiered at the Palm Springs International Film Festival and has been featured in several other festivals including the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, St. Louis International Film Festival, and the Miami International Film Festival. Morton and Roth won the “Fearless Female Filmmaker Award” at the 2022 Coronado Film Festival.
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