Written by Lori Khadse
Introduction
Undeniably, the media plays a huge role on how we view ourselves and others. The media cultivates role models, novel ideas, often biased and opinionated information, and all sorts of diverging opinions. In the early 1900's, before the medicalization of common mood disorders, the diagnosis of depression and anxiety were unheard of. Now, we have media representation of common mental illnesses such as ADHD and schizophrenia in popular books, movies, TV shows, talk shows, the news, podcasts, songs, and more. In fiction, they are often portrayed through characters and advance the plot. In nonfiction, true stories of individuals affected by a mental illness are shared. However you consume media, it's likely that the respresentation of mental issues you've been exposed to greatly impacts your general understanding of certain mental illnesses.
The Issue
The representation of mental illness in the media allows for dual interpretation; associating positive connotation with mental illness may allow for an audience to cultivate empathy, gaiin a better understanding of the mental illness, and generally promote awareness about the mental illness within the community. However, associating overly-positive connotation also opens the door for misinterpretation of the mental illness, spreading misinformation and undervaluing the difficult experiences that those with mental illnesses must undergo. That being said, associating negative connotation with mental illness is equally as dangerous - it fosters dangerous generalizations that can breed hatred and disdain towards all individuals in that group, furthering stigma, discrimination, bias, and prejudice.
It seems as though the only way to provide the public with accurate information is through completely unbiased, factual information. Afterall, both positive and negative portrayals of a mental illness have the potential to spread misinformation among the public. However, it isn't as black and white as it may seem. Though the media does have the potential to spread biases, it is also a useful tool to spread meaningful expereinces, cultivate empathy, and spread a more meaningful, human understanding of how a mental illness may affect someone. A toughing film or book is more likely to reach someone than a 10 paged research article on how depression affects the brain. It is through shared expereinces and stories that we can truly empathize with others. Stigmatization and discrimination are often products of ignorance and misinformation; when people have limited or downright incorrect information about a topic, they're more likely to make harmful assumptions and jump to half-baked conclusions. The media has the potential to not only accurately portray mental illnesses, but to humanize them as well, preventing misinformation and furthering the understanding of mental illnesses.
Once we understand both the importance of mental illness representation in the media, along with its associated risks, we can take the necessary steps to accurately portray mental illnesses.
The Impact
The way that mental illnesses are portrayed in the media impacts those living with the mental illness in question. Some illnesses have a more polarized stigma than others, often impacting their self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, and their mental health. According to the Mental Health Foundation, almost 9/10 people with a mental health issue state that discrimination and stigma impact their lives in a negative way. Additionally, the stigma often dissuades those affected from sharing their stories and reaching out for help, as they are often afraid of the associated backlash and judgement.
Some of the more stigmatized mental illnesses include Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), and Schizophrenia. While pop culture provides us stories of villians with dual personalities or "psychopaths" with dangerously eccentric traits, these are harmful stereotypes that are unbacked by any evidence-based scientific research. Individuals with these mental illnesses in the media are often portrayed as unpredictable, violent, and a danger to society. For example, in Borderline Personality Disorder, the public's general perception includes the idea that those with BPD are solely self-serving and lack empathy. However, they fail to realize that the symptoms of BPD also include feelings of insecurity and worthlessness.
Our Responsibility
When producing and consuming media, it's important to keep an open mind, and to never take information from a book or a movie at its direct face value. Though stories have the potential to inspire and spread experiences, they also have the potential to spread misinformation. It's our responsibility to do our own research and to make sure we don't facilitate the propagation of harmful misinformation about mental illnesses, especially when they affect the livlihood of those affected. By being critical of the media, we can become independent of dangerous yet popular stereotypes.
Closing Notes
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Sources:
1) https://www.verywellmind.com/mental-health-stigmas-in-mass-media-4153888
2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2719457/