Published in Europe by; Klim, Denmark; Frjals Fjolmidlun HF, Iceland; Rowohlt, Germany; Bzztoh, Holland; Chivers Press, England; Forlag, Sweden; Edit Du Seuil, Paris, France. Available on Amazon.com
Essondale (novel) – Macmillan of Canada, Toronto, 1993
The Intern (novel) – Macmillan of Canada, Toronto, 1996
Don’t Look Down (novel) – Bridgeross Communications, 2009Four men, age 18 to 81, have murdered, and now share a room in the secure forensic psychiatry ward of a mental hospital. Who better to get inside their heads, and find both the tragedy and comedy of their lives than Canadian psychiatrist and novelist David Laing Dawson. Three of Dawson’s previous novels, Last Rights, Double Blind, and Essondale have been published in seven European countries, the US and the UK. Dawson’s novels have been described as a cross between Elmore Leonard and Seinfeld and as close to reality as it gets. Available on Amazon and Chapters (Kobo)
Relationship Management: Treatment of the Borderline Patient – David Dawson and Harriet MacMillan: Brunner/Mazel, New York, 1993. Available on Amazon and Chapters (Kobo) Read Reviews
The Adolescent Owner’s Manual – Author, Published by Bridgeross Communications, 2010A refreshing look at the puzzling world faced by today’s teens and their parents who are trying to guide them. Incorporating advances in neuroscience, psychiatrist David Dawson clearly describes how teen brains work and offers practical advice to baffled parents in a fun and relaxing style. At the same time, he helps parents have confidence in their innate good instincts and solid understanding of their own children. Also included are significant behavioral warning signs that may indicate the early stages of serious mental illnesses. Dawson has the rare ability to make complex and potentially dull reading entertaining and instructive. In addition to being a psychiatrist, he is also a successful mystery writer and film director. Those skills enhance this book and provide some down to earth help to parents.
Painting is silent Poetry, Poetry is painting with words: Gallery on the BayAvailable for purchase at theGallery on the Bay
Feature/Drama
Cutting for Stone Full feature length movie, writer/director/producer. Completed 2003.
Sept 2003 – Montreal International Film Festival, Montreal, Que
Feb 2004 – Freedom Film Festival, Philadelphia, NY, USA Feb 2004
Shadows of the Mind Festival, Sault Ste Marie,
Columbus international Film Festival.
18 year old Philip Renold finds himself locked in a Mental Hospital. He doesn’t understand why his family has abandoned him, why his friends have turned against him. He struggles to find his way through the horror that has become his life but it all looks hopeless until he meets a young woman suffering from schizophrenia. An engrossing psychological thriller that is also an accurate and honest depiction of serious mental illness. Starring Dominic Zamprogna and Kathleen Munroe
Now with bonus features:
10 Years Later
Music video “Talking to the Sun.”
Family Interview
Available on DVD or download from Amazon
Who Cares D. Dawson and Alex Chapple: One half hour dramatic video for educational and commercial distribution, 1990
Ontario CAB Annual meeting, Kingston, 1990
International Schizophrenia Conference, Vancouver, 1990
Canadian Psychiatric Association meeting, 1990
Distributed by Magic Lantern (based on Dawson’s play, Whose Mind is this Anyway?)
Manic D. Dawson and Alex Chapple: One hour drama, Fleeting Glimpse Production, broadcast by TV Ontario, May 6, 1993
Stray Dogs Full length screenplay, writer,
Produced as full length film, Dead Anyway, 2013
My Name is Walter James Cross: writer/director 55 Minute Drama, schizophrenia, broadcast by TV Ontario, 2002/2003
May 2004 – APA Annual Meeting, New York, NY, USA
After contemplating suicide a man decides instead to tell the story of his struggles with schizophrenia. A one person play written and directed by psychiatrist David Laing Dawson. Featuring Marcel Aymar as Walter.
Available on DVD or download from Amazon
Here Not There – Writer, director, editor – 60 minute film of one act play performed at the Hamilton Fringe Festival, 2012
Starring Vince Carlin and Jo Skilton
In their golden years Charles and Shirley have downsized to a small Condominium. Charles comes home one night very late, a little drunk, carrying a mysterious box. He has decided this is the night he and his wife should confront their failures, their diminishing opportunities, the state of the world, and the very meaning of life. Shirley would rather go back to bed.
Available on DVD or download from Amazon
Modern Times: Almost a Musical – Writer, director, editor, 70 minute film of one act play, premiered at The Pearl Company, 2013
Documentary
The Brush, The Pen, And Recovery –Writer/director, editor, 33 minute documentary 2009
Three artists from the Cottage Studio in Hamilton Ontario talk about their mental illness, and their long road to recovery, as they prepare for a show at Gallery on the Bay.
Available on DVD or download from Amazon
Schizophrenia in Focus – Writer, director, editor – 53 minute documentary, 2012
Psychiatrist and filmmaker David Laing Dawson has been investigating schizophrenia for the past 30 years. For this documentary he has interwoven excerpts from his past documentaries, one-man plays, feature films, videos, dramatizations and first-person accounts, with an interview of Dr. Richard O’Reilly, to explore both the science and experience of schizophrenia.
Available on DVD or download from Amazon
Mind You Reflections on mental illness, mental health and life 