We hear the taunting all the time. The comments just roll off tongues – ” You maniac”, “You’re really mad you know”. They may seem like innocent and harmless words, but they carry a lot of weight, especially for the mentally ill, who often are the butt of lots of jokes. And perhaps we are ourselves guilty of making unguarded statements which create further discomfort for them. It makes them feel marginalized and are often reluctant to mingle or share their concerns with anyone. In many parts of the world, there is the misconception that mentally ill persons pose a threat to society.
People with mental illness are often discriminated against. To them, dealing with stigma is more difficult than dealing with the condition. In the UK, Mental Health rights lag behind all other rights in terms of funding. Meaning many people with mental illness have little or no support from services.
There are a number of false impressions about mental disorders and people who suffer them. These include the belief that only “weak” people suffer from mental problems; people with mental disorders are lazy and only old people who suffer mental sickness like depression. Others are that people with some mental issues like schizophrenia are violent and also severe mental disorders are incurable.
On the contrary, people with serious mental illness are rather more likely to be the victim of violence perpetrated by some members of society. In actuality, the mental illness renders a person incapable of functioning effectively, making the sufferer unable to work. The truth is, anyone can be affected by mental problems, even people who are successful, because the disorder is mainly caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain.
The media is guilty of diagnosing people’s behaviour with sensational headlines and through careless reporting. Since the media influences and shapes attitudes, it has the potential to challenge stigma and improve public understanding of mental disorders. It is therefore appropriate for the media to right the wrongs about public misconception of mental health. Television drama must refrain from unsympathetic portrayals and references to mental health. Journalists must also be sensitive in their work. They must write the plain and sensitive truth without embellishing it and with the correct description.
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