Are the Kids Alright? is a documentary that portrays the struggles facing Texas families who have a child with mental illnesses in getting the the help they need.

Broadcast on KEDT April 5th at 9:00PM, the documentary was produced by award-winning documentarians Karen Bernstein and Ellen Spiro of Austin, the hour-long film provides an arresting glimpse into children’s mental health services in Texas.

State officials estimate that some 420,000 Texas youths under the age of 18 suffer from a severe emotional disturbance that impairs their ability to function, but only a fraction of these children are appropriately diagnosed or treated each year.

The documentary not only portrays the steep obstacles and painful choices confronting families who have a loved one suffering from mental illness, but the daily struggles of mental health advocates, service providers, and policymakers in trying to help these youths get appropriate treatment.

"In the course of making this documentary, we found that children with severe emotional disorders are a hidden segment of the population in Texas," said Bernstein. "Although we connected with families from different backgrounds and regions in the state, their stories were surprisingly similar. All of them faced frustrations, misunderstandings, and a lack of resources in trying to get help for their children."

"Equally compelling are the stories told by the judges, clinicians, counselors, advocates, and policymakers who are doing their best in the face of a lack of public awareness and support for these fragile children and their families," Bernstein said.

The documentary was produced through an expansive partnership among a number of funders and organizations, including the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health and the Department of Radio, Television and Film at The University of Texas at Austin, HoustonPBS, the Houston Endowment, the Meadows Foundation of Dallas, and the Austin Film Society.