What cinematic devices can be used to portray mental illness? (original) (raw)
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Stigma is a Negative Marking of Mental Patients
Stigma means a negative marking of a person just because they have a diagnosis of a mental illness, and most often it refers to schizophrenia. It is associated with prejudices, i.e. negative attitudes that are based on the wrong facts that schizophrenia cannot be treated. Stigma is caused by a combination of ignorance and fear, which is the basis for the creation of entrenched myths and prejudices. Looking historically, schizophrenia as a disease has remained for the public one of the few medical areas whose mention is associated with feelings of discomfort, fear, prejudice and avoidance behavior. Aim: The aim of this paper is to say a few words about stigma and stigmatization, and at the same time to note that some people are stigmatized for no particular reason. Methods: The desk method was used in this paper. Results: When someone is stigmatized, he is also discriminated. Conclusion: The combination of severe mental illness, discrimination and stigmatization can be devastating for the mentally ill and has historically played a large role in isolating them emotionally and socially from other people and deepening their suffering.
Psychiatry between Glorification and Stigmatization
Psychiatria Danubina, 2017
In psychiatry, stigma means negative marking of the person only because s(he) has a diagnosis of mental disease, and usually this refers to schizophrenia. Stigmatization is related to prejudice, i.e. negative attitudes that are deeply rooted on false beliefs that schizophrenia cannot be treated. In principle, stigma is caused by combination of ignorance and fear which represents the basis of the creation of entrenched myths and prejudice. From a historical point of view, schizophrenia as a disease remains for public, one of the medical areas that are related to fear, a sense of discomfort, prejudice and avoidance. A combination of difficult mental disease, discrimination and stigmatization can be devastating for mentally disabled patients. Throughout history, stigma played significant role in patient's emotional and social isolation from other people deepening their suffering. A common consequence of stigma is discrimination which represents violation of basic human rights. Ment...
Constructs and concepts comprising the stigma of mental illness
Psychology, Society, & Education
People with mental illness frequently confront public stigma and may experience self-stigma. This review discusses the concepts of mental illness stigma and its consequences for those with mental illness. After a conceptual overview of stigma prominent consequences pertaining to public stigma (i.e., employment, health care quality) and self-stigma (i.e., self-confidence, quality of life, "why try" effect) are reviewed. We discuss the three main public stigma change strategies -protest, education, and contact -as well as current selfstigma change strategies (e.g., psychoeducation, cognitive-behavioral therapy). We conclude by noting that anti-stigma initiatives with more tailored content for specific groups (e.g., police officers vs. general public) may diminish the negative consequences of mental illness stigma by providing more concrete ways to help stigmatized people.
The Need To De-stigmatize Mental Illness
Naya Daur, 2019
About 450 years ago (according to Canadian sociologist Erving Goffman), ancient Greeks coined the term “stigma” to describe the negative labels assigned to the disadvantaged in order to set them apart from others.
Depictions of Mental Illness within the Medium of Modern Film
2021
This research sets out to analyse the current depictions of mental illness within movies released in this decade. The aim is to analyse mental illness portrayals through a medium that many within the public are familiar with and could have been influenced by (MPA, 2020). By doing this, the study aims to show what stigmatizing and stereotypical views the general public is exposed to. From 2010 to 2019, the most popular film of each year depicting mental illness was calculated using an instrumentation system and was included in the final list of 10 films portraying mental illness (one film from each year) which were the basis of the data analysis. The findings show that films were linking acute trauma with the emergence of mental illness, as 9 out of 10 movies show trauma in the forms of loss of a loved one and/or child abuse (psychical and sexual) as being the source of the manifestation of the mental illness. This is in line with research (Mueser, et al., 1998) which shows that trauma increases chances of mental illness within the individual and shows that there are elements of mental illness that are being depicted in a realistic view. Furthermore, 6 out of 10 movies referenced diagnosis or depicted characters receiving help from mental health professionals. Unfortunately, 4 out of these 6 films depicted these characters to be extremely violent during and after professional mental help which perpetuates the notion of mental care being ineffective in helping those in need, which takes away the positive influence the portrayal of persons seeking help could have achieved. Violence was seen to be one of the most prevalent stereotypes in relation to mental illness as half the films depicted characters with mental illness to be extremely violent towards other individuals, this shows that violence in relation to mental illness is still a popularized portrayal and could further enhances the view of fear towards mental illness. On another note, while violent depictions are still present, an element of empathy towards such characters was very apparent. This is a step in the right direction as even when the characters are seen to be committing violent acts, the audience will see the character as a person who has suffered and has cause for such acts rather than just being a ‘psychotic’ killer. Findings also showed that these violent acts were closely related to severe mental ii illnesses such as psychosis, anti-social disorder and DID. In comparison, more socially accepted illnesses such as PTSD and depression (Tsai, et al., 2018; Wood, et al., 2014) did not have connotations to violence but were rather shown as characters trying to overcome their mental disorder. These findings show that while there are some realistic and positive portrayals, mental illness is still being stigmatized and stereotyped. This highlights the need for future policies to target educating the public on mental illnesses, while also indicating the need for further research to better understand the gaps that need to be analysed and improved within the field of mental illness. Keywords: Mental Illness, Mental Health, Film Depictions, Stereotype, Stigma, Violence
[Graphic Medicine] Representations of Mental Illness in Medical and Popular Discourses
Media Watch, 2019
Representation, primarily understood as ‘presence’ or ‘appearance’ with an implied visual component, is a critical concept in the cultural milieu. Conceived as images, performances, and imitations, representations propagate through various media: films, television, photographs, advertisements, and other forms of popular culture. As such, representations of mental illness perform a pivotal role in framing perceptions about the mentally ill. These representations influence and shape public perceptions about the illness. This essay aims to analyze how mental illness is perceived, represented, and treated in popular culture and medical discourses. In so doing, the essay lays bare the ideologies and the symbolic codes that undergird these representations and the consequent stigma confronted by the mentally ill. Taking these cues, the essay close reads popular representations of mental illness in movies, newspapers, advertisements, comics, and paintings and the articulation of stereotyped images of the mentally ill in a medical discourse which externalize madness in distorted physiognomic features. In so doing, the essay exposes the negative implications of these representations on the personal and social lives of the mentally ill and negotiates the significance of personal accounts of mental illness experience as a means of reclaiming their identity.
The present study was aimed to compare stigma between mental disorders and other stigmatized diseases like Leprosy TB, STD and HIV/AIDS etc., and an effort was made to find commonalities and differences among stigma related aspects of these diseases. An effort was also made to develop some common platforms to address for elimination of stigma. Since the concept and origin of stigma varies from one disease to another, an understanding of cause of stigma is essential to formulate effective strategies to formulate for its reduction/ elimination. Further research need to be made for more insights. Stigma is usually considered as 'spoilt identity' (1) which is true of any stigmatized disease e.g., mental illness, leprosy, TB and STD & HIV/AIDS. Over the centuries mental illness has been looked upon as shameful, dangerous and incurable – something to be hidden due to high degree of stigma against the people suffering from mental diseases. This stigma severely affected in several ways in obtaining services, recovery, the type of treatment and support they receive, as well as their acceptance in the society. The fear of violence from mentally ill is said to be the main reason for this stigma. Mental asylums in the medieval ages were built to protect the community from the crazy, but not to treat them as normal individuals as their function was mainly custodial rather than curative. A more wider and current definition of mental illness refers to the range of cognitions, emotions, and behaviors that interfere with interpersonal relationships as well as functions required for daily work, at home, and in school (2). Schizophrenia may evoke images of violence and inability to care for oneself. Depression may invoke thoughts of indifference and induce substance abuse. Culturally it is normative behavior to perceive people with mental illness as dangerous and violent. This impact their employment opportunities; limitations on finding an adequate shelter; barriers to obtaining treatment services, including negative attitudes of mental health professionals; and the role of the media in perpetuating the negative image of mental illness. Protest, education and contact are three areas of involvement that have been suggested by researchers to reduce stigma against people with mental illness (3). In India, many villagers still believe that the cause of mental illness is wrath of evil spirits and the so-called therapy, conducted by witch doctors or family members include chaining up the mentally ill, chanting spells, poking them with pins, or beating them "to force the spirits out (4). Ironically, there are fewer stigmatizing attitudes towards the mentally ill amongst rural compared to urban community dwellers in India (5). Women and girls in India put into these institutions by their families or police and 'Treated Worse than Animals' with forced confinement physical, sexual and violent abuses against (16) The stigma surrounding people with severe mental illness
Stigmatisation of Mental Health Conditions in the Media
Stigmatisation of Mental Health Conditions in the Media, 2020
How the media influences societal stigmatisation of mental health conditions through examples from a TV sitcom and news broadcasts during the coronavirus pandemic. Focusing specifically on how stigmatisation of seeking treatment in certain groups of people i.e. males, military personnel, Emergency Services can have detrimental effects. Theories of reducing stigmatisation are also discussed.
2012
The current study examined the impact of film on participants' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors towards people with schizophrenia. Films viewed in the current study included a fear-based inaccurate, likeable-inaccurate, and an educational-accurate depiction of schizophrenia. A control group was included. A total of 106 participants were recruited. Participants completed pre and post questionnaires separated by a 45-minute excerpt of a film. A 2 x 4 mixed design ANOVA was implemented to determine the effects of the films on measures of knowledge and attitudes. A Chi-square analysis was used to determine whether or not the films would impact potential behavior. Manipulation checks were included, as well as control measures for familiarity with schizophrenia. Results yielded significant increases in stigmatizing attitudes for participants in the fear-based inaccurate group compared to the accurate and control group. Stigmatizing attitudes were significantly lower for participants in the accurate group when compared to the likeableinaccurate group. Knowledge did not vary. Participants viewing the likeable-inaccurate and accurate film tended to endorse behavioral benevolence compared to the fear-based inaccurate and control film. Lastly, fear-based participants reported increased negative affect and endorsed statements that people with schizophrenia were unpredictable, dependent, and dangerous. These results provide support for previous research indicating that accurate portrayals of severe mental illness decrease stigmatizing attitudes. The current study provides newly introduced empirical support for the hypothesis that negative, inaccurate portrayals of severe mental illness enhance stigmatizing attitudes. The direct advancement of social psychological research, as well as individual, social, and clinical implications are noted.