Mountain in My Mind Q and A with John Padilla
We sat down with John Padilla the man behind MIM to get more insight behind the creation/purpose of his new film.
Q: What is the Mountain in My Mind and the inspiration behind it?
John: The Mountain in My Mind is a multidisciplinary ski film about mental health. To put it very simply, my only brother, Jack, died by suicide in 2019 when he was just fifteen years old. Jack was an avid snowboarder, and despite a five-year age gap between the two of us, he never struggled to keep up with my friends and I. He always encouraged me to make a ski film; thus, the movie is dedicated to Jack. The tragic loss of my brother, coupled with the elevated suicide rate in the Mountain West are what inspired me to make Mountain in My Mind.
Q: Why is mental health so important in the ski industry?
John: The vast majority of ski towns in the Western United States are situated in what is called the “Suicide Belt”. This name describes the region containing Montana, Idaho, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, New Mexico, Alaska, Arizona, Oregon, and Washington because the area’s suicide rate is significantly higher than the rest of the country (nearly triple). Suicide is also the leading cause of death ages 10 to 34 in the Mountain West.
Q: Why does this region have such an elevated suicide rate?
John: The answer to that question is more faceted than Colorado’s snowpack. One major reason is the stigma associated with mental illness. If someone feels ashamed of the way they feel, it is very unlikely they will reach out for help. Another major reason that is specific to ski towns is what is known as the “Paradise Paradox”. From the outside, the Mountain West and its ski towns are viewed as an oasis, a place to vacation or maybe spend a Winter. For those of us who live and work full-time in these destinations, it is expected that we project unfaltering cheeriness and escapism to the tourists spending small fortunes at our resorts and businesses. Additionally, many ski towns see high numbers of temporary residents who come to work or play in the Winter and vanish by the end of May. This contributes to feelings of social instability, rejection, and isolation; all of which are major risk factors for depression, anxiety, and suicide. A few other major contributors to the increased suicide rate seen in the Mountain West are lack of available mental health care, wealth disparity between the working class and the wealthy, party culture and substance-abuse. The film’s title, “Mountain in My Mind,” represents the internal challenges we face as skiers and as mountain dwellers.
Q: How can the ski community come together to address mental health?
John: The first step to addressing this particular problem is removing the stigma behind mental health. My hope is that the ski community follows the lead of the skiers who tell their stories in the Mountain in My Mind. Start to talk to one another about mental health! From someone who lost a sibling, the one thing I would change is having a conversation with Jack asking how he was struggling and feeling on a deep level. Just talking about mental health and being supportive for friends and family is a fantastic first step.
Q: What was the biggest challenge you faced making Mountain in My Mind?
John: Well, before this project, I had never directed a ski film, let alone a 55-minute documentary. I had no idea how much work, time, and money went into the films that everyone enjoys. The biggest challenge was probably balancing my personal life and the project. I traveled over 36,000 miles and was away from my home in Bozeman, Montana for weeks at a time. This Fall I also started grad school at Montana State University, whilst also traveling most weekends. It is pretty much just me traveling on the project at this point, which has required a few all-nighters (it is 1am while I am writing this).
Q: What were the highlights of making the movie and what is next?
John: The highlight of the film has undoubtedly been the people I have met and the kind messages I have received along the way. Bobby Sullivan and Jed Waters have been supportive since the day we met to film at Mt. Hood. Sarah Dolan, Clare Chapman, and Audrey Friess have inspired so many women to tell their stories. Jack Clark, a friend before the film, opened up to me and our whole friend group about his struggles with Bipolar Disorder. Forrest Coots has become a life-mentor for me, as he lost his little brother, Brooks, to suicide at the same age I did. Another highlight has been working with brands like LINE Skis, who have been incredibly supportive of the mission of making skiing and the ski community a better place. The final highlight has been the response from the community and premiere attendees. Everyone who attended the live screenings has been so respectful, supportive, and kind. I feel like I gained a whole network of skiers and new friends with a common goal: destigmatize mental health. I hope to build on the momentum from Mountain in My Mind this Winter and to make another film. Next year’s project is going to be structured a little differently than this year’s, but maintains the same goal of encouraging conversation around mental health in the communities that make up the ski industry. Stay tuned and follow along on our Instagram page @MountainInMyMind
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