The Effects Of Media On Mental Health Stigma - 1680 Words

Throughout the past fifty years, the media has developed dual, counterintuitive roles in regard to mental health stigma. While the media has been a major contributor to the negative attitudes surrounding mental illness, it has recently evolved to become one of the most effective means of ameliorating stigma. However, the media needs to continue to improve in order to promote a healthy environment for people with mental illness. Before narrowing our focus on the media, we must clarify the terms mental illness and stigma. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, a mental illness is â€Å"a condition that impacts a person’s thinking, feeling or mood and may affect his or her ability to relate to others and function on a daily basis.† A survey conducted by the CDC reveals that 26.2% of adults in the US have at least one mental disorder. 5-7% of US adults have a â€Å"serious mental illness,† and 5-9% of children have a â€Å"serious emotional disturbance.† Mental illness remains the top cause of disability in the US, and, according to the World Health Organization, more US citizens die from suicide every year than from war or homicide. One contributor to the high suicide rate is stigma. According to the President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, stigma â€Å"refers to a cluster of negative attitudes and beliefs that motivate the general public to fear, r eject, avoid, and discriminate against people with mental illnesses.† Mental health stigma remains a major reason why peopleShow MoreRelatedThe Stigma of Mental Illness1656 Words   |  7 Pagesclinical diagnosis might exacerbate the stigma of mental illness. In Corrigan’s study clinical diagnosis adds groupness for the collection of people with mental illness which worsens the level of prejudice (Corrigan 34). Corrigan states that this ultimately leads to overgeneralization, as there is an assumption that all individuals diagnosed with the same mental disorders behave the same way (Corrigan 34). According to Corrigan the stereotypic description of mental illness perceives to the public thatRead MoreMental Illnesses And Mental Health1165 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction World Health Organization (WHO, 2014) defines Mental health as a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to his or her community. Whereas Mental illnesses (MI) are characterized by alterations in thinking, mood or behavior associated with significant distress and impaired functioning (Health Canada, 2012). MI affects people of all agesRead MoreIntroduction.... â€Å"If Mental Illness Could Be Seen On A1255 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction... â€Å"If mental illness could be seen on a sufferer maybe society wouldn’t say ‘just get over it’ .† Mental illness unlike other diseases or disorders are, for the most part invisible. They are not easily recognised. 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Jason Branch Fayetteville Tech Community College Author Note This paper was prepared for English 112.02, taught by Mr. Charles King on April 2, 2015 Abstract Mental illness is an area that many people are uncomfortable with. There is something suspicious about people who tend to appear mentally ill. This creates nervousness, fear, while presenting the unknown; therefore, Stigma. Now Stigma is defined as disgrace or public disapproval, which can leadRead MoreEssay about The Portrayal of Schizophrenia in Me, Myself, and Irene1178 Words   |  5 Pages Most people gather what they know about mental illnesses from television and film. Unfortunately these media portrayals are inaccurate and create stigma. They depict people suffering from mental illnesses as different, dangerous and laughable. Characters are often addicted to drugs or alcohol, are violent, dangerous, or out of control. Horror film characters like Norman Bates in Psycho, Jack Torrance in the Shining, or Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs associate the typical psycho- killerRead MoreMental Illness And Its Effects On The Media Essay1324 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Mental illness is often wrongly portrayed in the United States’ media creating stigmatization and misrepresentation. Mental illness â€Å"refers to a wide range of mental disorders that affect your mood, thinking and behavior† (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2015). Examples of disorders include anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Any â€Å"negative attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors are called stigma† (Wilson et al., 2016, p. 2) and stigma can contribute