Mental Illness: Media Analysis
Mental health issues are one of the most misunderstood health crises facing the population in this current day (Procter et. Al eds 2014). One of the main causes as to why people are not seeking and therefore finding the help they so desperately need is due to the negative stigma attached to mental illness (Pescosolido 2013). There are many organisations now trying to “break the stigma” surrounding mental health and some of the ways they are doing this is through public education, first-hand sufferers speaking out and by trying to make the community understand and have compassion for those suffering (Procter et. Al eds 2014). One of the organisations that use these techniques is called SANE Australia (2017). SANE Australia is a company, who
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not only have easy access for the public of where to get help but also stories from people with mental illness and how they found resilience. SANE Australia is a great resource for those not only with a mental illness, but also those who aren’t fully aware of what mental illness is and they work to stop these unaware people from discriminatory actions. Whether unknowingly or not, the public has created its own attitude of what mental illness is and these representations are generally far from the truth. People with a mental health issue are often seen as ‘crazy’ and ‘incapable of being normal’ and this mindset is the reason so many people do not seek help (Pattyn et. Al 2012). It is time that the world has an accurate depiction on what mental illness truly is so that the people battling with mental diseases can feel comfortable to seek help (SANE Australia 2013).
One of the main reasons mental illness is portrayed so negatively to the general public is an unfair portrayal in the media (Whitley & Berry 2013).
Most people who have minimal knowledge of mental illness can only go off how the media represents it. When the media portrays mental health in a negative way (as it often does) it is conveyed throughout the public attitude and in turn only rises the amount of negative stigma surrounding mental illness (Corrigan, Powell & Michaels 2013). One of the major myths shown in the media surrounding mental health is that it makes you violent towards others (Economou et. Al 2012). Reavley, Jorm & Morgan (2016) conducted a study about the link between the media and the associated dangerousness of people with mental health problems. The study concluded that ‘knowing someone with a mental health problem and having a higher level of education on mental health problems were associated with having less of a belief that the mentally ill are dangerous’ (Reavley, Jorm & Morgan 2016). Due to the negative stigma in the media surrounding mental illness, fewer people speak out about their disease and therefore the general public has less exposure to it, creating negative stigma surrounding it (Pescosolido 2013). This is why SANE Australia have a program called StigmaWatch, which is supported by the Australian Government’s program, Mindframe (Hunter Institute of Health 2012). Mindframe works to endorse a truthful representation of mental illness in the media by using the public’s judgement of what is a discriminatory view of mental health and reporting it. In this day and age where the media is so highly sought after for information, initiatives like Mindframe are necessary to help guide the correct material to the general
public.
The media’s representation of mental illness creates a negative outlook when in fact having a negative opinion on a group of people for being different is discrimination, and mental health is no different (Parcespe & Cabassa 2013). There are many harmful effects on the mentally ill due to this discrimination caused by negative stigma. One of these harmful effects is the discouragement of seeking help, making recovery a harder process (SANE Australia 2013). Many people do not want to speak up about their mental health issues as they are afraid that they will be looked at differently for it and other people will judge them (Rogers & Pilgrim 2014). The Mental Health Council of Australia (2017) undertook a survey and found that ‘85% of people in Australia with a mental illness were worried that people would view them unfavourably because of their mental illness’. SANE Australia, however, is working hard to change this thought that speaking up about mental illness will cause people to think critically of you. There are a lot of stigma-reducing strategies currently being used; Alongside having at least a basic understanding of mental health issues, SANE Australia recommends also having direct contact with someone with a mental illness (if possible) to gain a better understanding of the everyday struggles with having a mental illness. In doing this, experts suggest that there will be a willingness in discussing mental health issues and an increase of interest to seek help (Rogers & Pilgrim 2014).
This inability to get help due to the public stigma on mental health not only generates problems with commencing treatment but also creates self-stigma, which can lead to social isolation (Pattyn et. Al 2014). This social isolation creates a further risk of mental illnesses like depression and anxiety (if they do not have these already), which only furthers the severity of their mental health issues and self-stigma (Pattyn et. Al 2014). In SANE Australia’s report ‘A life without stigma’ (2013) they exclaim that ‘self-stigma can be the most harmful form of stigma’ and by people with a mental health issue self-stigmatising themselves, this is their way of accepting the negative stereotypes that the public portrays (Teh et. Al 2014). This self-stigma is what causes such a high self-harm and suicide rate in people with a mental illness and it is unfortunate that it stems from the public’s label of people with a mental illness (Pescosolido 2013). There are numerous aspects of everyday life that many people with mental health issues are made to fear due to a lack of confidence caused by the public reaction. These include basic things like applying for work, furthering education and having a good support network to share their life with (SANE Australia 2017). Yanos et. Al (2015) describes effective interventions helping to diminish self-stigma include; cognitive therapy, anti-stigma photo-voice intervention and being proud and speaking about having a mental illness. Although the public stigma of mental health is a large problem to fix, beginning with helping the people who have the mental illness to protect themselves from these negative messages can at least help break self-stigma (Yanos et. Al 2015). Many of these types of interventions are also being used through some of SANE Australia’s programs as well, therefore helping people with a mental illness better understand not to be frightened of speaking out.
All things considered, anti-stigma campaigns, like SANE Australia, play a crucial role in helping to change public perception of mental illness. Using techniques like public education, personal experience stories and advocating for those with a mental illness that are not confident enough to do it themselves (Procter et. Al 2014). With the media being one of the biggest outlets for public knowledge and information, it is important to help change this portrayal that they have of mental health. This stigma that is portrayed is a big influence over how the mentally ill view themselves making it even harder for them to find the courage to seek help and start treatment (Teh et. Al 2014). By working to change the negative view of mental illness it is believed that the public will have more compassion and empathy to those suffering, therefore lessening the stigma attached.
not only have easy access for the public of where to get help but also stories from people with mental illness and how they found resilience. SANE Australia is a great resource for those not only with a mental illness, but also those who aren’t fully aware of what mental illness is and they work to stop these unaware people from discriminatory actions. Whether unknowingly or not, the public has created its own attitude of what mental illness is and these representations are generally far from the truth. People with a mental health issue are often seen as ‘crazy’ and ‘incapable of being normal’ and this mindset is the reason so many people do not seek help (Pattyn et. Al 2012). It is time that the world has an accurate depiction on what mental illness truly is so that the people battling with mental diseases can feel comfortable to seek help (SANE Australia 2013).
One of the main reasons mental illness is portrayed so negatively to the general public is an unfair portrayal in the media (Whitley & Berry 2013).
Most people who have minimal knowledge of mental illness can only go off how the media represents it. When the media portrays mental health in a negative way (as it often does) it is conveyed throughout the public attitude and in turn only rises the amount of negative stigma surrounding mental illness (Corrigan, Powell & Michaels 2013). One of the major myths shown in the media surrounding mental health is that it makes you violent towards others (Economou et. Al 2012). Reavley, Jorm & Morgan (2016) conducted a study about the link between the media and the associated dangerousness of people with mental health problems. The study concluded that ‘knowing someone with a mental health problem and having a higher level of education on mental health problems were associated with having less of a belief that the mentally ill are dangerous’ (Reavley, Jorm & Morgan 2016). Due to the negative stigma in the media surrounding mental illness, fewer people speak out about their disease and therefore the general public has less exposure to it, creating negative stigma surrounding it (Pescosolido 2013). This is why SANE Australia have a program called StigmaWatch, which is supported by the Australian Government’s program, Mindframe (Hunter Institute of Health 2012). Mindframe works to endorse a truthful representation of mental illness in the media by using the public’s judgement of what is a discriminatory view of mental health and reporting it. In this day and age where the media is so highly sought after for information, initiatives like Mindframe are necessary to help guide the correct material to the general
public.
The media’s representation of mental illness creates a negative outlook when in fact having a negative opinion on a group of people for being different is discrimination, and mental health is no different (Parcespe & Cabassa 2013). There are many harmful effects on the mentally ill due to this discrimination caused by negative stigma. One of these harmful effects is the discouragement of seeking help, making recovery a harder process (SANE Australia 2013). Many people do not want to speak up about their mental health issues as they are afraid that they will be looked at differently for it and other people will judge them (Rogers & Pilgrim 2014). The Mental Health Council of Australia (2017) undertook a survey and found that ‘85% of people in Australia with a mental illness were worried that people would view them unfavourably because of their mental illness’. SANE Australia, however, is working hard to change this thought that speaking up about mental illness will cause people to think critically of you. There are a lot of stigma-reducing strategies currently being used; Alongside having at least a basic understanding of mental health issues, SANE Australia recommends also having direct contact with someone with a mental illness (if possible) to gain a better understanding of the everyday struggles with having a mental illness. In doing this, experts suggest that there will be a willingness in discussing mental health issues and an increase of interest to seek help (Rogers & Pilgrim 2014).
This inability to get help due to the public stigma on mental health not only generates problems with commencing treatment but also creates self-stigma, which can lead to social isolation (Pattyn et. Al 2014). This social isolation creates a further risk of mental illnesses like depression and anxiety (if they do not have these already), which only furthers the severity of their mental health issues and self-stigma (Pattyn et. Al 2014). In SANE Australia’s report ‘A life without stigma’ (2013) they exclaim that ‘self-stigma can be the most harmful form of stigma’ and by people with a mental health issue self-stigmatising themselves, this is their way of accepting the negative stereotypes that the public portrays (Teh et. Al 2014). This self-stigma is what causes such a high self-harm and suicide rate in people with a mental illness and it is unfortunate that it stems from the public’s label of people with a mental illness (Pescosolido 2013). There are numerous aspects of everyday life that many people with mental health issues are made to fear due to a lack of confidence caused by the public reaction. These include basic things like applying for work, furthering education and having a good support network to share their life with (SANE Australia 2017). Yanos et. Al (2015) describes effective interventions helping to diminish self-stigma include; cognitive therapy, anti-stigma photo-voice intervention and being proud and speaking about having a mental illness. Although the public stigma of mental health is a large problem to fix, beginning with helping the people who have the mental illness to protect themselves from these negative messages can at least help break self-stigma (Yanos et. Al 2015). Many of these types of interventions are also being used through some of SANE Australia’s programs as well, therefore helping people with a mental illness better understand not to be frightened of speaking out.
All things considered, anti-stigma campaigns, like SANE Australia, play a crucial role in helping to change public perception of mental illness. Using techniques like public education, personal experience stories and advocating for those with a mental illness that are not confident enough to do it themselves (Procter et. Al 2014). With the media being one of the biggest outlets for public knowledge and information, it is important to help change this portrayal that they have of mental health. This stigma that is portrayed is a big influence over how the mentally ill view themselves making it even harder for them to find the courage to seek help and start treatment (Teh et. Al 2014). By working to change the negative view of mental illness it is believed that the public will have more compassion and empathy to those suffering, therefore lessening the stigma attached.