The Machinist

As part of the MRC Festival of Medical Research, the MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics at Cardiff University held a free screening of dark psychological thriller The Machinist starring Christian Bale.

The event was held in association with Cardiff sciSCREEN, and included a free wine reception and talks relating to the film's themes, followed by a panel Q&A session.

Topics will include the nature of psychosis from the viewpoint of a researcher and a person with lived experience, the role of sleep in mental health, and the nature of reality in film.

Speakers 

Gemma Williams is a Clinical Research Fellow at the Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre. She is involved in a neuroimaging study of psychosis using Magnetoencephalography and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. Gemma is also an honorary consultant psychiatrist and works with the Early Intervention in Psychosis Service.

Katie Lewis is a researcher at the MRC Centre and National Centre for Mental Health. While it is common knowledge that losing sleep can make us feel less-than-ideal, Katie's research looks at how sleep loss can trigger more severe symptoms such as psychosis and mania.  Her current research examines how sleep loss during pregnancy and childbirth affects women's mental health, and how information about sleep patterns could be used to help manage conditions such as bipolar disorder. 

Charlotte Harding runs the Cardiff-based charity Recovery Mummy. She experienced postpartum psychosis following the birth of her first son. Since then, she has worked with pregnant women, parents and children affected by postpartum psychosis or postnatal depression through playgroups and peer support. She is currently studying counselling and volunteers as a Research Champion for the National Centre for Mental Health.