User reviews

This is a great look behind the scenes of what a psych ward can be like. I am impressed by the care and compassion the medical staff provide. The patients and their stories are so important and need to be amplified to reduce the stigma of those with mental illnesses.

As someone who has been diagnosed with a mental illness and admitted to about a handful of psychiatric wards I WISH they were like this one. Sadly I've experienced a range of very challenging environments and often with people of varying severity of symptoms. At times it was very scary and felt like the opposite of a safe and therapeutic environment.

I would recommend that people watch this to understand the kind of care that exists and the various treatments available. It's so important to find resources (preferably before you need them) and to prioritize your mental health.

Episode 1, the bald doctor Stasi interviewing the boy who wanted to jump off the bridge was awful, asking just a list of dry questions, with a clear attitude that he didn't give a damn!

No signs of friendship, or caring.

Wow, if this is their "technique", good luck to these college students!

Dr. Yan and Reich, at least, seem to want to understand more about the life of these people.

I am shocked by this approach: continuing questionnaires, exercises, lessons, etc.

And zero things to build friendships amongst them. Fortunately they stay together and play, without the help of the program.

Stasi and Stephany... you want to be effective? Stop the questionnaire! Ask them about their life, just be a friend.

I am a 23 year old who just graduated from college and had two stints in the psych ward this past year. Seeing this was really important for me as a reminder to stay out of that place and the skills I learned while there. It also helped me understand the perspective of the staff a bit more. However, the quality of a psych ward like this is VERY rare. This is much more rosy than 99% of units out there. I was with all ages and all conditions for weeks. When I went in the spring, there were many older men with psychosis and that was very scary as a young woman at times. My roommate was a woman in her late 30s who at one point told me she wanted to murder her daughter and she was an on record pedophile. And the therapy was not as focused and careful as presented in this documentary, although i did DBT as well like the patients in the documentary and it was incredibly helpful. However, I appreciate the portrayal of the patients and their stories the most, knowing that these individuals are the same age as me and going through similar pains. It in a way is hard to think about this documentary as mostly about the staff from my perspective. I think about the patients like me.

I just watched episode 1 of the 2 part series called One South. I'm a retired NYPD police officer. I've visited plenty of psych wards. I have to say that one south is nothing close to where I've been. The care, professionalism, and staff are in another league. The facility is not crowded and very clean. Even though it was shot during Covid, it didn't seem to affect the staff. There was a feeling of calm throughout the episode. During one stressful event, the staff was always looking out for each other, as well as what's best for the patient. If anything this show is a wonderful infomercial for this facility and its exceptional staff. Can't wait to see episode 2.

This was a truly eye-opening documentary. You never know what goes on in places like this unless you are there. Most have a negative attitude towards mental health, and this really showed what it's all about. The facility was beautiful and looked very clean. Dr. Stasi was so relatable and seemed like he really cared for and connected with the younger generation that needed help. Great job by the entire staff for doing this difficult job. I couldn't imagine taking this all home with me at the end of the day. Everyone must watch this to truly understand the struggle of the younger generation and how they cope with life.

One South: Portrait of a Psych Unit is all of the things listed in my review subject. It's an exceptionally insightful look into the world, into a world of condition and care that too many people don't know, or understand that exists. It's warming to see the level of empathy the doctors approach their patients with, and the patience and kindness. We are also given insight into the day to day stresses and frustrations of doctors and patients. It's also a little terrifying to watch, and understand that this could be anyone, going through what these people are going through, or maybe a few steps from it, and it could just be that one thing that happens that brings us all there. I'm thankful that there are people that are out there doing the good work to help others. I'm thankful for a show like this that is bringing attention where it is needed. Too many people are ignorant that things can go this way, be this bad, and something like this is enlightening, and re-enforcing of an important point, to always be kind, always be compassionate. You have no idea what people are dealing with or going through. Artistically speaking, the show is very well shot, it tells a spectacular story, and it paints a vivid picture of all of the above. Also, it's a documentary at it's core, and it achieves it's purpose solidly.

Have worked on Psychiatric (Behavioral Health) unit for past 25 years and while this Documentary did capture and portray many aspects of the hard work, dedication etc of the staff. It is either a sugar coated version or this hospital functions on a level and budget far above the norm.

It's like doing a Prison movie or documentary and using a Minumum Security country club prison instead of a Maximum Security prison.

The Reality is a much harsher, down and dirty one that this Documentary does not scratch. The worst day/ time shown in this film would be the best/easiest day at work that most in this field could hope for. This paints an unrealistic view of what it's REALLY like working Psych Combine the above with the constantly moving cameras (I was getting dizzy) and unstructured jump all over from patient to patient and storylines to storylines and I was like extremely disappointed in this.

This docu series gives an intimate look at what psychiatric Doctors and patients go through on a daily basis. A necessary rare glimpse of the inside. Hopefully it'll open eyes and start conversations about the state of mental health of these at risk youth that desperately need help and otherwise have nobody to care for them. The Doctors and Social workers here go above and beyond and you can tell they genuinely care about getting these patients the help that they need. 2 parts was a tease. We need 2 seasons. At least. Dr. Jason Stasi was one of the staff there that convinced me that there is hope and you can tell he's got a passion for his profession. The major difference between this program and other psychiatric docs, this staff is hip and relatable. Not the stuffy old shrink cliche of documentaries in the past. No spoilers but I finished watching and felt hopeful for the mental well being of those in need.

"One South" offers a poignant and enlightening look into the lives of adolescent patients and the dedicated staff within a mental health unit.

The staff's dedication is palpable, and their interactions with the adolescents are a testament to their mission to create a safe and nurturing environment. Most memorable for me was a conversation between two clinical psychologists discussing their approaches about their choices and whether different therapeutic routes might have been better for a certain patient, etc. While we all question our decisions in daily and professional life, for these clinicians, the stakes seem much higher, and I imagine the weight of that is immense.

"One South" also gives a voice to the patients themselves, allowing viewers to gain a deeper understanding of their struggles. The documentary's empathetic portrayal fosters a sense of connection that sheds light on the daily battles faced by these young individuals, and so many others. It's a powerful reminder that mental health challenges are real and impactful.

The documentary does more than just highlight the work of the unit; it opens up meaningful conversations about mental health. By bringing these issues to the forefront, "One South" encourages viewers to discuss and destigmatize mental health conditions. It's a crucial step towards fostering a more supportive and informed community.

For local families, this documentary offers invaluable insights into how an adolescent mental health unit operates. It demystifies the processes and shows the humanity and care behind the clinical facade. This transparency can be reassuring for families who may be navigating similar challenges, providing them with a sense of hope and understanding.

The documentary does an exceptional job of portraying the complexities and daily realities for both the staff and patients.

This show is quite well done. The mental health professionals are top notch and the story is inspiring. I hope the mental health system that we currently have can somehow pivot to something like this. The therapies practiced are done with precision and grace and caring. As someone who has worked in mental health for 15 years and worked with severally and persistently mentally ill adults, i can say without a doubt that these folks are the house on the hill when it comes to there professionalism and tact with this population. It was a pleasure to watch and learn from these folks and gain insight into how I can be better with similar folks I work with. Bravo !

This wasn't what I thought it would be. I've been in three psych ward type places, and I thought this was going to be a documentary exposing them. One South looks like a nice place where you actually get to see doctors so this place does look good. I have been in a place similar, but two of the three places I've been in were horrible. I hoped this documentary would show that side, so it just wasn't what I expected. Watching is also a little triggering so I would say only watch if you're a medical professional/ therapist looking to research about your job. Or if you are looking to potentially check yourself into One South and want more info about it.

This really does not show Alot of what goes on and alot of people are saying how compassionate staff is but in reality they are the complete opposite! The compassionate and caring attitudes these people have for these psych patients is purely FOR THE CAMERA I have been on psych units and they do not care this much this was all for show point blank mf period! The ONE psych unit I've encountered that I truly look back at as where I felt safe is in Glen Oaks Hospital in Glendale Heights, Illinois and they REALLY DID CARE they had a juvenile psych unit and a residential program all on one unit and the way it was set up is they had on one side was 1 A and the other side was 1 B on the other one side residential and one side inpatient psychiatric, I was on both sides and I felt so incredibly safe there!! I still find myself thinking back to the time I spent there, I tried running away 4 times total and that was so dumb of me to do because they were genuinely trying to help me, I may even write a book on this unit cause they are incredible! I stay in touch off and on with the people there and the patients who I later became really good friends with, NOW THAT PLACE THEY SHOULD DO A DOCUMENTARY ON it is genuine and not just for show like this one is!!