Tags
acitivist, advocacy, Advocate, American Horror Story, bipolar, creative nonfiction, mental health, mental illness, mentally ill, psychiatry, psychology, schizophrenia, stereotypes, stigma, televison, writing
Last night my husband and I were scrolling through Netflix, and there was a picture on one of the series that looked like a baked potato. I didn’t have my glasses on, so I couldn’t see it clearly. I asked my husband, “What is the show with the baked potato?”
“You do not want to watch that.” My husband said.
“What is it?” I asked.
“American Horror Story.” He said.
“Is it scary?” I asked.
“I don’t know.” He said as he started to flip through and read the various episodes.
When he got to season two, he read me the title of the series, Asylum.
“I want to watch that episode.” I said.
“He said I think all of season two is about an asylum.” He replied.
“I want to see how they handle the issue of mental illness. I really want to see this. Of course, if it is too scary, we will turn it off.” I said.
It is the most stereotypical program about mental illness that I have ever seen. It is so offensive, that I only watched about twenty to twenty- five minutes before I asked my husband to turn it off.
The episode starts out with a couple taking pictures at a run-down hospital for the criminally insane. The woman is reading off her smartphone details about the place and of course, the most notorious serial killer of all time had been housed there.
That was enough right there for me to know that the show was going to depict mental illness in the most horrendously offensive and derogatory way.
The next scene was a flash back in time to when the hospital was operating. A young woman reporter is visiting the hospital and is greeted by one of the patients. The patient is a woman that is short, has big teeth, doesn’t talk but nods happily (crazily) and has physical features that make her stand out as someone you would accidentally stare at on the street.
The journalist is talking to the patient, and a staff member comes out. The journalist says something like, “She meant no harm.” And the staff member replies, “She drowned her sister’s baby and cut off his ears. She is not harmless.”
The show goes on to show other patients screaming, rocking, etc. I couldn’t watch much more.
There was a point while watching it that I felt a barrier go up between me and the rest of the world. It was a barrier that was made of pain – built to protect myself.
This is how they like to portray us. I have been on a psych ward, and everyone was in street clothes watching television, walking around, making crafts, eating lunch, participating in group therapy, or on a smoke break.
I can now imagine how the Native Americans felt when they watched Western movies that constantly portrayed them as savages, or how Black Americans feel when they watch a movie and they are cast in the role as butler, or doorman, or maid.
We have come a long way in terms of racism and there are so many activists and allies lined up to call racism out where ever it shows up. The same is not true for mental illness. Even with all the mental health bloggers, all the stigma fighting groups, all the activists for the mentally ill, it is still okay for Hollywood to portray the mentally ill in any way they would like – the stereotypical way still sells and I don’t hear any outrage at the backward and harmful ways of producers, actors, directors, set designers, costume designers, and everyone else that contributes to these horrible depictions of a whole segment of our population.
I have come to the conclusion that people like the obvious, wild, serial killer, monster, head banging, screaming image of the mentally ill – they are comfortable with that. Knowing that the woman that picks up their paper while they are on vacation, or the professor that they look up to and want to be like, or the coworker who always offers to help them finish those reports is mentally ill must be uncomfortable for some people.
The obviously mentally ill can be avoided. They can be mocked and made fun of because they aren’t fully human in some people’s mind. They are “less than.” They are caricatures of real people.
Today, I have no nice ending to wrap this essay up like a bow.
I’ll leave it at this: If a whole segment of society has to put barriers up to protect themselves against popular beliefs and depictions of who they are as people, there is something inherently wrong with that society, not the people who put up barriers to retain their dignity and self-worth.
Your right…tv and movies show the mentally ill as being more than it really is! But, they don’t care since that kind of horror sells and they profit from it in big way. It would be helpful to show the real truth about it and gain support for people and understanding of it.
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This is such an interesting topic to me. Caricatures of groups extends to gender extremes/stereotyping as well, and people with disabilities, and people of color, people from other parts of the world. Maybe it is believed that if the depiction isn’t extreme enough the viewers won’t recognize the characters? Or they won’t be believable? Or viewers won’t be “entertained”? Or there won’t be enough contrast between characters? There a molds. I guess most people can only hold so many molds in their heads, which is why autism baffles them, being a “spectrum” and all. People think that if you’re not rocking and flapping your hands you must not be autistic.
I feel your frustration, because I deal with this when it comes to my autistic 8 year old son. Teachers and therapists have tried to stuff him into a mold, treat him as such. When this happens (trying to use picture exchange cards though he’s verbal, insisting he look them in the eye when he’s just trying to focus on auditory, talking to him like he’s deaf instead of just slowing down or repeating) their teaching or treatments are ineffective.
What works has always been the same thing: Seeing him as a kiddo FIRST. He’s just Julian. One of a kind. And there’s no mold for that.
Keep educating others. Maybe people will learn to take most entertainment for what it is, fiction.
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AHS is fraught with stereotypes, for every series they produce. But asylum, especially the first one or two was hardest for me to watch. Especially the opening sequence. I understand that it’s supposed to be not-real, a series of a collective of dark fears, but yes, this is what people think of when they think mental illness for lack of anything else to compare it to. The reality being much more boring, and not fit for TV.
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It’s so frustrating for me, I feel like there’s more we, I, could be doing to help fight stigma and the media’s portrayal of mental illness. I originally started blogging to help fight stigma, but sometimes with the blog it feels like I’m preaching to the choir, only reaching others who already agree with me. That doesn’t incite change.
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I know what you mean.
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It appears that in order to “sell” the idea, one needs to go for “over the top”. A sad statement when reality is overlooked and hurtful stereotypes are used to benefit one’s cause… whatever that may be. I also agree with mouthofthebeast…for change to happen, the message needs to get out to those who don’t understand or care to understand.
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I agree! 🙂
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Ahhh so hurtful. Cringing- the violent monster stereotype breaks my heart. I’ve see these too, and that’s why I starting writing my own musical about mental illness- I couldn’t find brilliant, normal, awesome characters with mental illness (like I’ve met in real life) so I had to write them. Great post!
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That is wonderful that you are writing a musical about mental illness! I hope to see it on stage one of these days! 🙂
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Aw thanks, love! Really appreciate that 💛💛💛
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Thank you for having the courage to write this one. I have visited my mom in a psych ward and my daughter, and neither one of them was some kind of psycho killer. I am so tired of these stereotypes! Ugh.
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They are the worst!
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It is because of all the TV shows and movies portraying mental illness and psychiatric hospitals so horribly that I was terrified to get real help. I had so much anxiety about going to a mental hospital for fear it would turn out to be like it is on TV. But I was suicidal and I wanted help, so I went regardless and hoped that the movies had it all wrong.
I spent 2 weeks in the hospital and while it wasn’t the 5 star luxury suite, it was safe and comfortable. I had my own room. There were lots of nurses to talk to. I was allowed to do crafts, puzzles, go to groups, nap, have visits from family, and they showed a nightly movie with popcorn for those interested. It was like a 2nd home and the first week I didn’t want to leave. By the 2nd week I was ready to go home and start back into my life successfully.
I was pretty upset/angry at movies and television for awhile and stopped watching them since I knew they were no where near accurate. Thank you for having the courage to post this!
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That is awful that the stereotypes kept you from seeking help. I’m glad you finally did though. Thanks for sharing your story it is powerful.
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I have never watched it and never plan to. I usually don’t want much TV.
Hugs Becky
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Hugs, Sarah!
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Hugs Becky
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Sadly, that is not surprising. The stereotype of the violent mentally ill person never seems to go away. I also hate it when movies try to portray people who are bipolar – there is apparently a new one out with Mark Ruffalo. Hollywood always seems to portray that illness’s mania as a great time and the character with it always seems to end up on a roof threatening to jump off because he thinks he is superman. Gross.
– Karen
p.s. I am new to your blog and enjoying it. I don’t remember how I came upon it! I am not schizophrenic but do have depression and anxiety – something that is never portrayed well either I don’t think, even in books written by people with anxiety. Books on depression seem to hit the mark better – the Noonday Demon for example. But anxiety only ever seems to be about people being afraid of germs and such. I’m like, no, anxiety is also about being terrified in your brain almost all of the time,even of your own thoughts. I should write a book!
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I have anxiety too – social, and general. I think you should write a book about it! I would read it.
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