UNLISTED: A Story of Schizophrenia

A Film By Delaney Ruston, MD

As Seen Nationally On PBS

REACTIONS

“It's beautiful and powerful."
Steve Lopez
LA Times Reporter & Author, The Soloist
“By far the most powerful documentary that I have seen about mental illness."
Pete Earley
Pulitzer Prize Finalist, Author of Crazy

WATCH

Watch a clip from Unlisted

THE STORY

Richard Ruston was afflicted with paranoid schizophrenia before his daughter Delaney Ruston’s birth. After many years of shame, frustration, and fear, she decided to hide from her father and keep her phone number and address unlisted. But now, 10 years later, Richard is more stable on a newer medicine and Delaney, given her experiences as a doctor and a mother, decides to reconnect with her father. What new understanding and acceptance of her dad and his illness can she now find? What obstacles to getting her dad treatment will she now face? Knowing that her earlier failed attempts to get needed treatment to her dad is a common occurrence in today’s starved mental health system, Delaney decides to bring her camera along with her during this journey of reconciliation.

THE FILMMAKER

Delaney Ruston is a filmmaker, Stanford trained physician and mother of two. Through her company, MyDoc Productions, Delaney has made other award-winning documentaries on mental health along with UNLISTED, such as HIDDEN PICTURES, about global mental health. HIDDEN PICTURES was filmed in China, India, France, South America, and the US and was screened in multiple film festivals, by 14 organizations on World Mental Health Day and aired nationally on PBS. 

Delaney went on to create the award-winning film SCREENAGERS: Growing Up In The Digital Age. The film has thus far brought together over 14 million kids and adults in community screenings in 104 countries. In 2019, she released Screenagers: NEXT CHAPTER, followed by Screenagers: Under The Influence in 2023, and Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition in 2024.