Kay Parley: Mind of Her Own chronicles the life of Kay Parley, who battled mental illness and later became a psychiatric nurse at Weyburn Hospital, where she was once a patient. In 1948, she experienced her first mental breakdown while working at the CBC and suffered from hallucinations. Her illness was diagnosed as manic-depressive psychosis in 1972.

Hospitalized at Weyburn, Kay found opportunities for growth, becoming the editor of the in-house newspaper. Driven by her experiences, she later returned to Weyburn to study psychiatric nursing. At Weyburn, under Dr. Humphry Osmond, the hospital became known for its progressive approach to mental health, including LSD experiments. Kay became deeply involved and was known as the "LSD expert," often acting as a "sitter" for patients. She found nurses who had taken LSD easier to relate to. During this era, Weyburn Hospital received international acclaim for its progressive approach.

Through personal interviews with Kay, archival footage, and insights from friends, colleagues, and historians like Professor Erika Dyck, Mind of Her Own reveals the evolution of mental health care and the inner world of mental illness. Kay, who was told to "be an ambassador" upon her initial release from Weyburn, has dedicated her life to reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness through her work as nurse, teacher, and author of books like "Inside the Mental". Her story, spanning over seven decades, is one of resilience, courage, and enduring hope. This film offers a thought-provoking and humanizing look at mental illness through the eyes of an extraordinary woman.

Director: Aaron Silverthorne
Producers: Judith Silverthorne, Aaron Silverthorne

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