The entertainment industry and popular culture portrays mental illness as people who are incapable of being normal and constantly trying to seek attention. Let me be perfectly clear for those who seem to not understand: MENTAL ILLNESS IS NOT AN ATTENTION GRAB. MENTAL ILLNESS IS NOT A DECISION. MENTAL ILLNESS IS NOT A WEAKNESS. MENTAL ILLNESS IS NOT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY.
For those of us suffering, it’s hell. It’s a constant uphill internal battle that destroys every shred of happiness we may have. It tears apart our insides like a paper shredder. We do not choose to be the way we are. It’s not a joke, nor is it something to be laughed at or whispered about. The media deems this type of behaviour towards mental illness as “acceptable.” News flash: IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
I did some research into this particular area since of course I’m a journalist and I like to research everything and double check sources constantly to make sure the information I present is current and accurate. I came across an article written by Kismet Baun, Senior Communications Advisor at the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario. It was published in February of 2009 and it explains in detail how the media has the power to shape public perception of one topic or issue at hand. It is a large influencing factor in how society reacts to different things.
I’ve cut out a quote from the article to prove my point. The article includes studies and statistics that are helpful to understand the media’s influence on society’s view of mental illness.
The Media and Mental Health
by Elena de Luigi
“For better or worse, the media shapes our ideas and ways in which we understand those around us. For those suffering from mental illnesses, the implications of the often negative and inaccurate portrayals of mental health issues are significant. Inaccurate information in the media about mental illness, even if the portrayal of an individual is positive, results in misunderstandings that can have considerable and very real consequences. For example, inaccurate depictions of schizophrenia (which is often confused in the media with multiple personality disorder) can lead to false beliefs, confusion, conflict, and a delay in receiving treatment. Unlike physical ailments, many mental illnesses are associated with stigma. Whether it is self-directed or from society, dealing with this “shame” can be debilitating and interfere with daily living. The mentally ill continue to receive negative attention, largely due to fear and prejudice. People who suffer from mental illness are often pushed to the fringes of, or are directly excluded from, society.” (Baun, 2009, p.g. 9)
Another thing, society seems to think that depression or anxiety are the only mental illness. WRONG. There are so many others that people suffer from that can affect a person a great deal. Schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, borderline personality disorder, binge-eating disorder, selective-mutism disorder, dissociative identity disorder, seasonal affective disorder, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, impulse control disorder, psychosis, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and so many others. The list is extensive and frightening. Many people don’t know some of these illnesses exist because they aren’t talked about as often.