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'It's okay to not be okay': Tom Hanks' 'A Man Called Otto' addresses mental health issues

"A Man Called Otto" is out and filmed scenes with Tom Hanks in Toledo last year. While many viewers said it was good, others say the movie had touchy suicide scenes.

MONROE, Mich. — The latest Tom Hanks movie, "A Man Called Otto" filmed scenes in Toledo last year and has received positive reviews during its theatrical run. But, it also has some people surprised about how suicide is presented.

WTOL 11 visited moviegoers at Phoenix Theatres in Michigan's Mall of Monroe. While several viewers said it contained touchy scenes and was emotional, they said it was a good movie nonetheless.

Robin Isenberg, the executive director of NAMI Greater Toledo, said creators and media need to be conscious of how to handle sensitive subjects for the ones who may find the subjects triggering or hard to handle.

"There's a lot a lot of things going around in our country around a lot of hot topics and nobody can escape it," Isenberg said.

NAMI's motto is simple: "it's okay not to be okay."

Tom Hanks' character, the titular Otto faces situations that address that same motto in the movie, where he's challenged with loss and loneliness.

Moviegoer Bonnie Fitzgerald said she was surprised by how suicide was a subject in the film.

Others, like Sue Leibold, said "anyone under 14 or 15 shouldn't see it and it does say at the end you should call a phone number."

Isenberg said media consumption is high right now and was increased as the COVID-19 pandemic hit. So, it's important to respectfully and tactfully depict serious issues.

"It's factual, it's concise, we're not repeatedly showing graphics that could be triggering for individuals, not glorifying individuals," she said.

Isenberg said no one should walk alone and that reaching out to someone for help can be life-changing.

She said suicide can be prevented with the right treatment and support, which are things her team can help connect people with so they can live the life they're meant to live.

If you or someone you know is dealing with a mental health crisis, dial the hotline number at 9-8-8. Resources and links to other help are located on our website under the links mentioned article.

If you are in an immediate emergency, dial 911. Isenberg said you can also ask for a CII officer certified in counseling.

Organizations that can offer assistance for those struggling with mental health are listed below:

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Ohio CareLine

Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Lucas County

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