“A way of saying that life is stronger”: in Dordogne, the John-Bost Foundation celebrates

Filmmaker Nicolas Philibert will be the guest of honor at the event, Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 June, at the historic site of La Force, near Bergerac.

The John Bost Foundation, headed by Guillaume de Clermont, will celebrate the 150th anniversary of its annual festival at its historic site in La Force, near Bergerac (Dordogne), on Saturday, June 14 and Sunday, June 15. For the occasion, it will welcome filmmaker Nicolas Philibert, who has worked extensively on the world of psychiatry.

What is the meaning of this foundation celebration?

Guillaume de Clermont. In an institution like ours, the annual celebration is a powerful symbol of hope. A way of saying that life is stronger, beyond suffering or vulnerability. John Bost wanted to "welcome those whom everyone rejects" and "place flowers on their paths." That's the meaning of this celebration. We always invite a prominent figure and a pastor, since we have a Protestant tradition. Nicolas Philibert is a remarkable person, as a filmmaker, and he brings an outsider's and slightly offbeat perspective. Finally, it's an opportunity to introduce this somewhat extraordinary place that is the foundation to people who are opinion leaders in society.

Nicolas Philibert, did you know the foundation?

I had heard about it from my parents, but this is the opportunity to discover it. One of its missions is to change the way people look at people who have been made invisible or stigmatized. To change it through encounters, which can surprise us, sometimes confuse us, but always in a fruitful way. We live in a cautious world, withdrawn into ourselves, and when we can break down barriers, it seems beneficial to me. And, to return to the founder's words, "put flowers on their paths." It's also the idea that creating beautiful welcoming places is important. Often, they are a little gloomy or just functional. But it's so important to welcome people in a beautiful place. It's part of the care.

How has the support evolved?

Guillaume de Clermont . The foundation supports, in part, people who suffer from mental health disorders but especially neurodevelopmental disorders, with sometimes very severe disabilities, multiple disabilities, even into old age. In the 19th century, people were locked up in asylums. John Bost wanted to welcome them in an open environment, connected to society. He contributed to changing the way people view disability. Today, there is a very strong injunction to "deinstitutionalization," that is to say, allowing people to leave institutions. For the better, when this allows some to evolve and regain autonomy. For the worse, when they are left without support in an environment that can be dramatic for them. There are people so dependent that they cannot be autonomous in society. We must support them as much as possible towards autonomy, but also preserve places for dependent people.

Nicolas Philibert. I'm a filmmaker, not a caregiver or historian in this field, so I'm not very comfortable answering. But yes, we have to know how to maintain "asylums," in the true sense of the term. And not abandon people on the streets. We also see that this is a sector that is suffering enormously, both from a lack of resources and a lack of recognition and attractiveness.

What remains to be accomplished?

Guillaume de Clermont . It's very broad. First, there's the question of how we view fragility, in a society that has crushed the small and the vulnerable, in favor of power and bling. Except that human life is precisely defined by its fragility, and it ends up affecting us all. We must know how to face it. Then, we must revalue the image of the professions of all those who take care of others. Today, they no longer inspire young people, and that's tragic. Because these are the professions closest to what life is in its profound truth and complexity. If we want men and women who take care of the most fragile, we must revalue the image of care.

Nicolas Philibert. I agree 200%. We only look at people who suffer from mental health issues through the prism of danger. However, they are a tiny minority, and they are the ones who suffer first and foremost. And yes, we must restore the appetite for these professions, which are a source of wealth.

Nicolas Philibert will speak at the annual meeting on Saturday at 3 p.m. The full program is available at johnbost.org. Admission is free.