So how does the media play a role in the stigmatization of Mental Health? There are many ways they do it. For example, whenever a shooting, bombing, or other act of violence occurs around the world especially the United States, the usual media outlets usually suspect some type of Mental Illness affecting the individual or individuals involved. That causes fear and ignorance of those viewing these media outlets because they lump all those who has a Mental Illness into the same category. To many of those in the Mental Health Community whether they are directly affected, an activist, or someone who believes the stigma that surrounds Mental Health needs to go away.
It's time for society to wake up and pay attention. There is no reason those in society should be using Mental Illnesses as adjectives. For example, calling someone bipolar, saying they are way too anxious, crazy, not right in the head, and other types of language adds to the stigma. First, educate yourselves and understand how those who are diagnosed with Mental Illnesses are affected and how their friends and loved ones can help. Educating yourself can help open your eyes to what is around you and know that not everyone functions in the same way. Not everyone's brain is wired the same, everyone is different and perpetuating to the stigma doesn't help at all.
So back to the question of how does the media and hollywood play a role? For example, there is a new movie coming out called," Split", with James McAvoy who stars as a man with split personalities and the main plot of the movie is how he takes three girls captive and holds them against their will as his personalities began to take over and you see what is portrayed in media come to the big screen. The negative aspects are seen of how someone who has a Mental Illness is violent and can't control their emotions or how they feel. This is not what we need to see, we as the MH community want justice, respect, and most of all compassion. This isn't the only movie that has a person portrayed with a mental illness resorting to violence and this can be said about television shows as well.
This adds to the perpetuation by the media and Hollywood because people buy into these movies before educating themselves on Mental Illness and the stigma that surrounds it. Saying all people with a Mental Illness are prone to violence, will harm others, have no control over themselves is almost the same as saying all those who own guns use them violence. Most people have them for protection just like the majority of the Mental Health community are non-violent, compassionate, and trying to make their voices heard to break the stigma.
It's time for the stigma to end. It's time for society to wake up and stop instilling fear in people around the world that everyone that has a Mental Illness is prone to violence when that is not true. The Mental Health community deserve respect, compassion, and understanding that their voices are meant to be heard, not silenced.
So back to the question of how does the media and hollywood play a role? For example, there is a new movie coming out called," Split", with James McAvoy who stars as a man with split personalities and the main plot of the movie is how he takes three girls captive and holds them against their will as his personalities began to take over and you see what is portrayed in media come to the big screen. The negative aspects are seen of how someone who has a Mental Illness is violent and can't control their emotions or how they feel. This is not what we need to see, we as the MH community want justice, respect, and most of all compassion. This isn't the only movie that has a person portrayed with a mental illness resorting to violence and this can be said about television shows as well.
This adds to the perpetuation by the media and Hollywood because people buy into these movies before educating themselves on Mental Illness and the stigma that surrounds it. Saying all people with a Mental Illness are prone to violence, will harm others, have no control over themselves is almost the same as saying all those who own guns use them violence. Most people have them for protection just like the majority of the Mental Health community are non-violent, compassionate, and trying to make their voices heard to break the stigma.
It's time for the stigma to end. It's time for society to wake up and stop instilling fear in people around the world that everyone that has a Mental Illness is prone to violence when that is not true. The Mental Health community deserve respect, compassion, and understanding that their voices are meant to be heard, not silenced.