Private Project

It Stops With Me

A short documentary, following a young woman and mother who emerges from childhood trauma and addiction, finds resilience and forges a new life for her and her daughter.

  • Jennifer Schwirian
    Producer
    Both Sides of the Desk
  • Brian Plow
    Director
    The Veterans Project; Both Sides of the Desk
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    19 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    December 4, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    5,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States, United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States, United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Brian Plow

Jennifer Schwirian, L.I.S.W.S. is the Clinical Services Director at Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare (ABH), one of six state-operated psychiatric hospitals in Ohio. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio University and a Master of Social Work degree from The Ohio State University. Ms. Schwirian has worked at ABH and in the mental health field for over 25 years. She is passionate about reducing stigma that can surround those with mental health and/or substance use disorders. Within the last ten years, Ms. Schwirian has explored the role trauma plays in the lives of individuals, and she currently facilitates the Southeast Ohio Trauma Informed Care Collaborative (SETICC). She fully believes that “marijuana isn’t the gateway drug; trauma is.” She lives in The Plains, Ohio with her husband, two children, two dogs, one cat, and nine semi-free-ranging chickens.

Brian Plow is an educator with a passion for social issue documentaries. Brian's films as a director/producer and cinematographer have been featured at festivals throughout the US, aired regionally on PBS affiliates in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and aired globally on PEG media outlets. Both Sides of the Desk (2023) was Brian's first collaboration with the Southeast Trauma-Informed Care Collaborative. The short documentary premiered at the Cinema Columbus Film Festival and won the top award for health documentaries at the Documentaries without Boarders Film Festival in 2024. When he is not making films, Brian is busy teaching media and social change at Ohio University's School of Media Arts and Studies.

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Director Statement

The Southeast Trauma-informed Care Collaborative is 1 of 6 regional collaboratives across the State of Ohio, that educate communities on the impact of trauma and the importance of trauma-informed care for resilience and healing. SETICC represents Southeastern and Appalachian portions of Ohio, and is engaged in education through storytelling.

It Stops with Me, is a short documentary designed to raise awareness about childhood Trauma or Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE). It is an honest account of how one can carry ACEs into adulthood and the damage it can do. It is also an inspiring story of one woman's resilience, as she gains knowledge of her trauma and becomes empowered.

Producer Jennifer Schwirian, Director of Clinical Services at Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare and director, Brian Plow, professor of media arts and studies at Ohio University, have teamed up again to bring this vital story to the screen. In 2023, the SETICC team released Both Sides of the Desk, a short documentary that advocates for Trauma-informed Care in Southeast Ohio. The documentary screened at the Cinema Columbus Film Festival as well as others throughout the US. It can be viewed at www.ohioseticc.org