North Central students using art to address mental health issues

Stirred by the indifferent and sometimes even cruel reactions to mental illness he witnessed as a teen, North Central College student, playwright and director Jesús Martinez is putting his talents to work to try to affect change.

The production of his first play, “Far From Normal,” debuts Thursday, Jan. 26, at Meiley-Swallow Hall on the college's Naperville campus.

Martinez describes the two-act play as an ensemble piece featuring 15 actors.

“The whole play takes place in a behavioral health hospital in the eating disorders unit,” he said.

A junior majoring in theater and psychology, the Aurora resident said his intent is to create realistic, multidimensional characters who don't simply serve as recovery clinic archetypes.

While all his fictional patients have eating disorders as a common denominator, they also have distinct personalities and life circumstances.

“They all have different struggles,” he said. “We're showing these different characters and the different sides to them. It's not always, ‘this is why they're in therapy.' We're trying to portray complex humanity.”

Martinez said he was inspired to start writing the play when he was a junior at East Aurora High School.

He said he saw some of his peers struggling with depression, anxiety, self-injury and eating disorders. What he found even more upsetting, was that some other students — and even some adults — would react by calling them names or ostracizing them.

“I felt compelled to write the script and show the reality of it and break the stigma,” he said.

He said he hopes the show conveys a sense of what it's like to grapple with mental health issues so others are inspired to empathize rather than criticize or ridicule.

Alexandra Gravis, a sophomore musical theater and communications double major at North Central, is Martinez's assistant director.

“The show approaches mental illness in a good way,” said Gravis, of Montgomery. “It really shows that people struggling with mental illness are also people.”

On its face, the topic may seem heavy and dark, but Martinez said the play does have funny, lighthearted moments, reflecting how life often interjects humor into otherwise serious situations.

Gravis agrees.

“There are bits of comedy inserted,” she said. “I really hope people come into the show with an open mind.”

Martinez said his quest for realism led to a partnership with one of his psychology professors, Leila Azarbad.

“I've been working with her since last year to make sure the script is accurate on a professional psychology level,” he said. “It's seen a lot of revisions. It's not an author's piece at all.”

He said he plans to put both his majors into practice in his career.

“Right now, I'm looking at graduate programs, I'm looking at drama therapy,” he said. “I want to help those who are struggling with mental illness, through the arts.”

Next, Martinez said he may write another play.

“I'm starting to toss ideas around in my head,” he said.

But, for now, he said, he is concentrating on watching “Far From Normal” come to life.

“I'm very much enjoying the actual production itself,” he said. “I'm very proud of the cast, the crew and the designers. They're having fun with it. Their hard work is going to show.”