Mind Over Mountains

Sun Valley

Shredding stigma about mental health in ski towns with conversations and community.

Sun Valley Opera House

<h3>Join Sun Valley Resort for a FREE screening of UPS &amp; DOWNS, a ski film focused on mental health in the mountains. Meet filmmaker and skier Drew Peterson, who will sit down with ski journalist Paddy O'Connell.</h3> Behind closed doors, professional skier Drew Petersen has been living a much different reality than ski films, magazine covers, and Instagram likes have shown. Following a near-death accident in the mountains, Petersen went into a dark tailspin of mental health struggles. In the following years, he has privately navigated an arduous journey of PTSD, bipolar disorder, brain injury rehabilitation, and suicidal thoughts. Told through the lens of ski touring, “Ups and Downs” is an introspective look at the mountains and valleys along his path, and how his mental health journey is ultimately lifelong—both from well before Petersen’s accident and for the rest of his life moving forward. His story is truly one of finding the light, healing both in the mountains and in therapy, and how giving voice to his struggles ultimately saved him. "I’ve known for a long time that when I got myself to a safe, stable place, I would want to share this story publicly with the world. When I expressed this to my therapist several years ago, she shared this advice:Think about it like the safety talk when you board an airplane. The stewardess says, 'If the cabin loses pressure, oxygen masks will fall from the ceiling. Make sure your mask is secure before helping those around you.'It took multiple years of therapy and hard work for me to get my mask on securely. About a year ago, early in the 2020-2021 ski season, I told my therapist that I was confident that my mask was on. What I had realized and have learned to accept was that my mask was not perfectly sealed nor leak-proof—and it might not be for the rest of my life. But I decided that for me, my mask is secure enough that it’s not going to fall off. The seal still breaks on occasion and it leaks, but I’m confident that I now have the tools, systems, and help to readjust it when necessary, tighten the straps, and keep on breathing.That moment was the beginning of making this film and telling my story publicly. That was when I knew I was ready to help those around me.Making this film, telling my story, and sharing myself with the world has been a journey in and of itself. But what I’ve learned more than anything is that there is infinite power in changing our entire culture surrounding mental health. The number of people that have reached out to me and opened up with their own stories continues to amaze me. All of these struggles—all the way to my struggles with suicidal episodes—are truly normal. I didn’t fully believe that until now, but if I could have known that when I was at my worst, I would have felt much less alone.So for those of you out there who my story resonates with, you are so far from alone. And I promise you there is hope.With love,Drew Peterson"

Please contact us at the Sun Valley Recreation Center 208.622.2135 with any questions you may have about purchasing tickets for this event.

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