06/01/2024
Day 31 International ME Awareness Month - The Lived Experience of Severe ME
Films to Educate about ME & Severe ME
To family, friends, carers, GPs, doctors, medical students, and any other health and social care providers of individuals with Severe or Very Severe ME, please see films about ME and Severe ME below
1. From the 'Dialogues for ME' series
'Dialogues' is a resource which patients can use to increase their own understanding and those of their families, friends and carers, as well as helping doctors, medical students, physios, OTs, social workers, carers, educators and research professionals, understand more about this disease and the issues involved.
Please see the list of films in the 'Dialogues' series below and links to each film.
- The Tangled Story of ME: Controversy, Denigration and Ignorance (1hr 11 mins): https://www.dialogues-mecfs.co.uk/films/the-tangled-story-of-me-cfs/
- Introduction to ME (15 mins):
https://www.dialogues-mecfs.co.uk/films/introduction/
- Understanding Post-Exertional Malaise, a hallmark symptom (15 mins): https://www.dialogues-mecfs.co.uk/films/post-exertional-malaise/
- Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM) in ME – a brief guide (6 mins):
https://www.dialogues-mecfs.co.uk/films/post-exertional-malaise/
- Activity and Energy Management – Pacing (16 mins):
https://www.dialogues-mecfs.co.uk/films/pacing/
- Severe and Very Severe ME (first film - 15 mins):
https://www.dialogues-mecfs.co.uk/films/severeme/
- Symptoms and Management of Very Severe ME (second film - 19 mins): https://www.dialogues-mecfs.co.uk/films/severeme/
- Hospital Admission – Issues and alternatives for severely ill ME patients (third film-16 mins):
https://www.dialogues-mecfs.co.uk/films/severeme/
- Understanding Graded Exercise Therapy for ME part 1 (first film - 9 mins): https://www.dialogues-mecfs.co.uk/films/graded-exercise-therapy/
- Understanding Graded Exercise Therapy for ME part 2, The PACE Trial (second film - 9 mins):
https://www.dialogues-mecfs.co.uk/films/graded-exercise-therapy/
- Patients’ Accounts of Key Symptoms includes short films about:
• Reduced Function (20 mins);
• How does the disease start? (27 mins);
• Post-Exertional Malaise – a hallmark symptom that is essential for a diagnosis of ME (22 mins);
• Cognitive Impairment – a core symptom of ME (18 mins);
• Sleep Dysfunction – a core symptom of ME (12 mins);
• Orthostatic Intolerance (11 mins);
• Pain (12 mins);
• Hypersensitivity (13 mins):
https://www.dialogues-mecfs.co.uk/films/patients-experiences/
All films in the Dialogues for ME series are available together via the link here:
https://www.dialogues-mecfs.co.uk/videos/
2. Voices from the Shadows
'Voices from the Shadows' shows the brave and sometimes heartrending stories of five Severe ME patients and their carers. The film shows the devastating consequences that occur when patients are disbelieved and the illness is misunderstood.
( Content Warning: The film about Severe ME has sensitive & difficult to watch/hear content. It is not suitable for children to watch.)
a. The 30 min film version of 'Voices From the Shadows' can be watched via link here:
https://www.dialogues-mecfs.co.uk/voices-from-the-shadows/
b. The original 1 hour film version of ‘Voices from the Shadows’ is available to view free of charge on Vimeo using the promo code VOICES:
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/22513/108797012
Thanks to Josh Biggs and Natalie Boulton, creators of the 'Dialogues' series and the film 'Voices From the Shadows'
