Kony director to be released from psychiatric ward

Russell, co-founder of the group Invisible Children, was hospitalised on Thursday for “exhaustion, dehydration and malnutrition,” stemming from the emotional toll of recent weeks, the group said.

The 33-year-old filmmaker was detained by San Diego police after neighbours saw him running naked through the streets, shouting and swearing.

Police say he was taken to a mental health facility for observation after he was found “acting bizarrely and running into traffic”. He is to be released later today.

His wife Danica has blamed the breakdown on stress and said in a statement that Russell “has never had a substance abuse or drinking problem”.

It came just two weeks after his 30-minute documentary on Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony became an online sensation, recording a staggering 80 million hits on YouTube in its bid to “make Kony “famous” and raise awareness about the child soldiers of the Lord’s Resistance Army.

‘Severe emotional toll’

Chief executive of Invisible Children, Ben Keesey, posted a statement on the charity’s website in support of his colleague, saying the media scrutiny and criticism in the wake of the Kony2012 video had taken its toll.

“The past two weeks have taken a severe emotional toll on all of us, Jason especially, and that toll manifested itself in an unfortunate incident. Jason’s passion and his work have done so much to help so many, and we are devastated to see him dealing with this personal health issue.

The past two weeks have taken a severe emotional toll on all of us, Jason especially, and that toll manifested itself in an unfortunate incident. Ben Keesey, Invisible Children CEO

“We will always love and support Jason, and we ask that you give his entire family privacy during this difficult time.

“He is now receiving medical care and is focused on getting better.”

Who is Jason Russell?

Father-of-two Mr Russell is an evangelical Christian with a background in musical theatre.

The self-professed “rebel soul and a dream evangelist” set up Invisible Children with two friends in 2004.

Stop Kony: Why is the viral video so successful?

The charity describes Russell as “our grand storyteller and dreamer” and credits “his sparks of creative intelligence and insanity” for the group’s success.

When asked who his hero was in an interview, Russell said: “If Oprah, Steven Spielberg and Bono had a baby, I would be that baby.

“I will help end the longest running war in Africa, get Joseph Kony arrested and redefine international justice. Then I am going to direct a Hollywood musical.”

Kony backlash

The Kony video sparked a fierce backlash with critics saying it over-simplified the conflict and implied white middle-class Americans were the answer to Africa’s complex regional problems.

Critics have also condemned Invisible Children’s financial records, which show that of the $13.7m it raised in the 2010-11 financial year, it spent $8.8 million on expenses such as filming costs and transport.

The prime minister of Uganda has also hit back at the “false impression” created by the Kony campaign, employing the same social media tactics used by Invisble Children to target celebrities.

We do not need a slick video on YouTube for us to take notice. -Amama Mbabazi, Ugandan Prime Minister

“You may all be assured that the government of Uganda is acutely aware of the grievous damage which has been caused to our people by Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army. We do not need a slick video on YouTube for us to take notice,” he said in a nine-minute video on YouTube.

Mbabazi has also taken to Twitter to invite the celebrities targeted by Invisible Children in its video to spread awareness about Kony to come to Uganda and see the country for themselves.

“As PM of Uganda, I invite you to visit the Pearl of Africa & see the peace that exists in our wonderful country,” he wrote in tweets to celebrities including Ryan Seacrest, Taylor Swift and Warren Buffett using the hashtag #KonyisntinUganda.

Lindsey Hilsum blogs - Kony 2012: inaccuracies aside, this is how to spread a message