Street roots., May 13, 2011, Page 8, Image 8

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street roots
May Í3, 2011
P H O T O : M A R K E ' flO G A N C A M P , C O U R T E S Y O F T H E C IN E M A G U ILD ;
A medic rescues a wounded major after an ambush by the S S in this miniature creation by Mark E. Hogencamp. He creaied a 1 /6 scale model o f a World War I I Belgian town as a way to deal
with his mental illness. His pursuit is the subject o f a new documentary; “Marwencol.”
One man's war
Documentary
puts new focus
on mental
illness,
homelessness
and the
intersection
with art
BY JOE NOLAN
street, his meager surroundings and the
overdraft notices in his mailbox reveal that
new documentary tells the story — he is among that growing group of
of rather the true-life fantansy — of Americans for whom an unexpected illness
photographer Mark Hogancamp. -
or injury can be financially devastating.
it’s also a story about the human
In addition to* illustrating the perils of the
impact of lack of health insurance, mental
uninsured,'“Marwencol” also speaks to the
illness and addiction on America’s at-risk
addiction issues that often plague at-risk,
populations. “Marwencol” is a tribute to
the
communities.
After being told he can no .
regenerative powers of art.
longer receive therapy at the hospital,
On April 8, 2000, Mark Hogancamp went
Hogancamp moves home, where he
•to a bar in his town of Kingston, New York.
explores his surroundings and interviews
After being harassed inside, Hogancamp
his friends to fill in the blanks' regarding the
left, but was followed and attacked by five
person he used to be. While his old journals
men who kicked and beat him without
reveal that Hogancamp had been a talented
mercy. His face and brain Were so severely
comic-book-style illustrator, they also remind
damaged that Hogancamp remained in a
him that he had been a tormented alcoholic.
coma for nine days.
Alcoholism and mental disorders often go
Upon-regaining consciousness,
hand-in-hand. About half of all people
Hogancamp had to start from scratoh-
diagnosed with some form of mental illness
learning how to eat, talk and walk as if for
will also be dual-diagnosed as having, a
the first time. Although he made fast
substance abpse problem. Likewise, half of '
progress in the first 40 days after his coma,
alkalcoholics are dual-diagnosed as suffering
his real challenge was only just beginning,
from a mental illness. Hogancamp’s
After just over a month of therapy,
personality difficulties most likely stem from
Hogancamp was informed that because he
his post-traumatic stress, his brain damage
was uninsured he was no longer eligible to
as well as his sometimes visible frustration
receive further treatment
and real rage at the circumstances of his life
Lack of insurance or under-insurance is a
as the victim of such a senseless crime.
constant reality for people on the streets or
However^ it’s likely that anger has always
at-risk of becoming homeless. For folks who
been a problem for Hogancamp. His friends’
are already homeless, the dangers of life on
descriptions of his drinking days imply as
the street are compounded by a lack of
much, and Mark’s hazy memories - coupled
access to proper care should they become
with the graphic, violent imagery in his old
sick or injured. According to the National
journals - point to the realization that his
Health Care for the Homeless Council
alcoholic tendencies may have always been
(NHCHC), 70 percent of homeless
accompanied by some form of mental
individuals, are uninsured. Even beyond
illness. '
more extreme forms of poverty, lack of"',
Among those who are homeless,
affordable health insurance remains one of
alcoholism often plays a role as both cause
the primary culprits in jeopardizing
and effect According to the National
formerly-middle-class lives. As the NHCHC’s Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism,
2010 policy statement reveals, 62 percent of an alcoholic becomes at risk for
all bankruptcies last year were attributed to
homelessness when a significant proportion
an unexpected medical emergency.
of already-scant household income is spent
While Hogancamp doesn’t wind up on the
on alcohol or other substances. Of course,
t
C O N T R I B U T I N G W R IT E R
■
it’s also difficult for a person who is barely
getting by to properly focus on treatment
and recovery. Once someone is homeless,
alcohol and other substances become
cpmmon coping 'strategies to manage the
stress, danger and anxiety that are all a part
of life on the streets. Ultimately, it’s a
vicious cycle in which causes and effects
interchange to the detriment of the user
¿and their living situation.
¿ “A large percentage pf those we serve
have addiction issues^” explains Rachel
Hester, executive director of Nashville’s
Room In The Inn; “I am not sure what
comes first, the struggles they face or the
addiction. Every one of us has an escape.
For example: shopping or relationships. ,
When we aré in crisis, these escapes .can
also lead to crisis/What I have also seen is
that many use alcohol and drugs to self
medicate their mental health issues and
may not even be aware of it. What we (at
Room In The Inn) try. to work toward every;
day is offering alternative escapes like art
therapy, libraiy, chess, positive
relationships, recovery meetings,
education.” ?
The mixed-blessing of Hogancamp’s
recovery is that his alcoholism is also one of
the things he lost to the attack. Just as he
can’t remember much about his bid
personality, it’s as if he can’t remember
being an alcoholic.
When Hogancamp realizes his only hope
for a full recovery is a total commitment to
exercising his.body and mind, he decides to;
take matters into his own hands. With hands
that shake too much for an immediate
return to drawing, Hogancamp creates an
ingenious and rigorous program of art
therapy for himself, right in his own
backyard. His creation helps him to develop
his dexterity while simultaneously
See ONE MAN'S WAR, page 9