Mental Health In Media

Introduction

Mental health is the cognitive, emotional as well as behavioural wellbeing. Mental wellbeing consists of how we feel, think and behave and as such has a significant role in our daily physical health and relationships. Therefore, mental health has a substantial essence in one's ability to enjoy their life. On the other hand, mental illness, is the lack of mental health which means that a person with mental disorder suffers from emotional, behavioural and psychological disturbances. People used different sources to access information about their mental health (World Health Organization, 2017). This essay explores various issues that are related to using media as a source of mental health and illness information.

Considerable research has established that media is the basic source of information about mental illness {(National Mental Health Association (NMHA, 1997): 70% from TV, 58% from newspaper, 51% from television, 34% from news magazines, 25% from internet), Cutcliffe and Hannigan (2001): media representation of mental illness override personal experiences with mental illness. The question that arises is, how accurate is the media representation of mental illness?

Research shows that watching and reading inaccurate, sensationalist and insensitive media material on mental illness lead to a negative attitude mentally ill people. Also, exposure to negative media messages has been found to have a direct impact on people's attitude and perception, and this is equally true regarding mental illness. Although exposure to positive messages might not alter the negative beliefs and attitudes that people have on mental illness, it is attributed accurate representation which in turn would result to patients coming out for help and adhering to treatment. The negative impact of media misrepresentation of mental illness has been found to be more influential on the public's opinion and perspectives as compared to direct interaction with persons with mental illness. A portrayal of an actual patient and actual mental health expertise in media stories would, therefore, serve as a great remedy for little direct interaction with people living with mental illness.

What all of us think about when thinking about mental illness is the characters we see on television; a person hearing voices that make them do and say things, a person running uncontrollably, a person obsessed with self-harm locked down and chained. These are the images presented as a mental illness in TV shows, printed media and films. This representation is stereotypical and has a repercussion on our perceptions about mental health. Seemingly, media misrepresents mental health. Based on this assumption, this easy explores these misrepresentations and seeks to identify the negative impact of media portrayal of mental illness.

Issues of Mental Illness and Media

The role of media in influencing the public's perception towards mental illnesses

Media has an influential critical position in informing and shaping people's attitudes, behaviour, knowledge, and perceptions. Happer and Philo (2013) stipulated that the media has a major role in the creation of the individual’s attitudes as well as beliefs concerning the social changes experienced. In particular, they noted that people resort to the media to access information, experiences, and knowledge in areas they lack direct experience. Philo, 2008; Philo, Miller, & Happer, in press (Cited in Happer and Philo (2013) however insisted that although the public continually acquires knowledge from the media, it does not mean that they take the messages uncritically- the media fail to educate the public on how to think. In agreement with the two observations, it would right to say that while the media does not tell people what to think, media messages are the frameworks used to set and frame the agendas and ideas of public interest- the media limits the range of perceptive and arguments that inform public interests and debates (Happer and Philo (2013).

Reliance on media as a source of information has grown over the years, and as Wallace et al., (2013) notes, media has a significant influence on people. Those interviewed in this study agreed that media influences the consumer's behaviours and attitudes; a majority agreed that this influence from media is negative. Media content is consumed consciously or sub-consciously. There are no substantial independent sources of information on the things happening in the world, and as such, much of all information is from the media. Accessible information reaching the people is either first hand or filtered using the opinions of the people who have had an experience. Either way, the media is the critical influence because the media usually inform the opinions used to filter. The respondents in Wallace et al., (2013) particularly noted that most people do not take note of the information in the media and instead are receptive to the news slogan.

However, people with first-hand experience, and who have the strength to create their views, they were found to hold their views based on these experiences and were limitedly influenced by media. People without personal experiences, however, were found to believe in stereotypes (Wallace et al. 2013). Considering the stereotype that people who are older people are more susceptible to being crimes’ victims, Wallace et al., (2013) established that for people who lack any personal contact with an older person who has been a victim believed that this stereotyping was true even though they had had knowledge that victimisation is a typical occurrence. Lack of personal experiences and the strength to create personal views is the central cause invisibility and homogeneity of issues presented by the media.

In World Health Organization (2017), media was found to equally influence people's attitudes, perspectives, and behaviours, as personal experiences. These two were found to mute the influence of people's cultural background, group culture and educational attainment on people's attitudes and behaviours towards things. In Townsend and Morgan (2017) it was found that commercial programming in TV shows and drama series have a high influence on viewers perception on the issues presented; (73% agreed that commercial programming showing that older people are forgetful made them believe that it is true). In line with the above observations, it is evident that the media has a substantial influence on people's attitudes and beliefs and likewise has a role in influencing people's attitudes and perspective on mental health and illnesses.

Pirkis and Francis (2012) found out that the media is an essential information source on mental health for general public and individual with mental illness. In the media, mental illness is presented with a negative image which contributes to a continued promotion of negative beliefs regarding mental illness; media, both fiction and non-fiction link mental illness to violence and also present it as a "life sentence." This presentation of inaccurate information has led to the continued stigmatisation and belief in myths within the community. Besides, some positive portrayal in the mass media, especially if the stories of mental illness are personalized, have positive impacts but insignificantly as it cannot balance the negative portrayal.

According to Srivastava et al., (2018), people view reality based on their own experience which is influenced by both the primary and secondary groups (family and friend, institutions) and the media. Also, mass media was found to have a significant impact on people's expectations for their family and friends by setting standards informed by the media. As other sources of influence decreases, the influence of media increases there providing adequate evidence on its impact on people's thinking, attitudes, and emotions. Bandura (1992) (cited in Valkenburg, Peter and Walther, 2016) stated that media is a socialising agent that is used to constructs and perpetuate perceptions as well as influence behaviour. In the past, the media has been used to breakdown some social misconceptions and myths about HIV/AIDs among other illnesses and behaviours and therefore have a role in positively influencing the people’s perspectives about mental illness.

Media has immensely contributed to the stigmatisation of mental illness in the world today. Botha, Koen, and Niehaus, (2006) reported high stigmatisation based on the respondents in a South African survey targeting people with schizophrenia who stated that they felt a high degree of discrimination and stigmatisation and that media had a negative impact on attitudes towards mental problems. Angermeyer et al., (2005) established evidence showing a distorted presentation of mental illness in the media. Looking at the link between TV usage and desired for a social distance towards individual with mental sicknesses, the study established that the desire to socially disassociate with people with Schizophrenia increased with the increase in TV consumption. Following these relations, Angermeyer et al., (2005) advocated the change of media content regarding mental illness from one-sided and inaccurate information to balanced and more accurate content.

Negative outcomes of how mental illnesses are portrayed in the media

Stuart (2006) noted that while all people have some knowledge about mental illness, much of the information is gathered from the media and is usually inaccurate and a misrepresentation. Media upholds negative stereotypes about the mentally ill which are based on hearsay misconceptions. Resultantly, the way media portrays mental illness leads to an unfavourable view of the mentally ill and as a result, the people with mental illness are looked down upon and are feared. Stuart (2006) noted that entertainment media represent mental illness and mental health interventions dramatically and with distorted images; unpredictability, criminality, and dangerousness. Also, the reaction to mental illness is presented with rejection, fear, ridicule, and discrimination. The advocates of mental health have put massive blame on the media for the low turnout for mentally ill people to seek and adhere to medication as a result of the stigma and discrimination promoted by the misrepresentation.

Wilson et al., (1999) explored how mental problems is shown in prime-time television dramas. In the 14 dramas examined, a total of 20 mentally ill characters were shown. 15 of the mentally ill characters, representing 75%, were indicated to be physically violent to other people as well as themselves. All the characters were negatively depicted with the following attributes; asocial, unpredictable, appearing lost, dangerous, social outcasts, unproductive and vulnerable. In a positive way, the characters were depicted as caring and empathetic. In Sampietro, (2010), mental illness was found to be associated with different meanings as it is presented in the media. Mental illness was found to be associated with violence and crime in some of the literature considered ((Monahan, 1992; Mulvey, 1994; Walsh, Buchanan & Fahy, 2000; Arbach & Pueyo, 2007). In these studies, media depicted mental illness as risk and violent. In other pieces of literature (Modestin, 1995; Taylor & Gunn, 1999), media presented the attribution of criminality and violence to mentally sick as a slant objective. In both cases, however, there is a negative portrayal of mentally problems on the media.

TV shows and fiction writing are lately the primary platforms where everyone is talking about mental health. While a few of these shows and writings try to look at the challenges and issues associated with mental illness such as trauma and bipolar disorder most of the storylines are fear-mongering and wild. Jessica (2018) stated that when looking at TV shows, whether “reality” or drama, she frequently is angry for seeing how viewer are misled. The doctor state that in a study conducted in 2016, 25% of college students reported that film and TV shows were their main source of information on mental illness. In her work, Jessica highlights inaccuracies presented by media.

In 13 Reasons Why, a character Tyler is depicted as a student who has PTSD and is involved in a violent scene of “revenge” using weapons. Most TV shows and media commercials conduct fake diagnosis that mischaracterises what the mentally ill person is doing with the real symptoms. For example, as Jessica notes, in The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Lisa is misdiagnosed as schizophrenic, after she uncontrollably starts to attack people in a party. Jessica notes that while people can unpredictably try to hurt others, this does not make them mentally ill. Also, in this particular case, being schizophrenic does not make one erratic.

In general, media depiction of mental illness perpetuates myths which dangerously misinform people regarding mental health. In Tartakovsky, (2009), most of these myths were critically discussed. Besides the notion that mentally ill people are unpredictable and violent, media also tend to depict mental illness as a life sentence with no hopes to get better. Characters with mental illness in commercial media and TV shows regularly undertake treatment without getting better or sometimes, the symptoms are seen to reappear long after treatment is completed. This is a myth considering that in reality, it is possible for a mental illness patient to complete treatment and successfully integrate with the rest of the community.

Mental illness stigmatisation in the media

The media is the platform that teaches us about issues and people we have not has a direct or routine interaction. From what is presented by media about a situation or a group, people acquire the social cues of identifying with the group, and therefore we can decide how and when to relate with them. Benbow, (2007) reported that in a world where mental illness is presented with the misconception that mental illness patients are dangerous and unpredictable, stigmatisation is reinforced and perpetuated by this misrepresentation. Mentally ill people shy away from seeking help and live in secrecy due to the stigmatisation and discrimination. Media stigmatisation is also the main hindrance to de-stigmatisation which would involve the coverage of positive images of mental illness to replace the violence stereotyping. Although media is the main platform used in the creation of this stigmatisation, it is significantly essential for the success of any efforts for anti-stigma.

In fiction and non-fiction media shows, there is a high tendency of labelling a perpetrator of violence as "crazy." This term "crazy" is vaguely sued to denote people whose mental capacity is not to per as is expected. In other words, "crazy" refers to individuals with mental incapacity which resultantly is used to mean mentally ill. As Naveed (2018), notes that while it is possible for a criminal to be mentally ill, automatically labelling them as crazy contributes to the stigmatisation of the individual living with mental illness. In most cases, mentally ill persons tend to be victims of crime especially because at the time a crime is happening, they are incapacitated to respond in time, therefore, making them more susceptible to being harmed. Labelling offenders as crazy leads to stereotyping and also creates a relationship between being a criminal and having a mental illness.

Instead of framing mental health as an issue in society, the media focuses on the individuals in a community. This focus leads to people looking down upon the mentally ill and blaming them for their illness. The mentally sick are presumed dangerous and disruptive which encourages isolation. Also, while each type of mental illness is unique and those living with the illnesses portray different behaviours, portrayal of the media leads to overgeneralisation in which all are expected to behave the same way. In TV films, for example, mentally ill people are portrayed as depressed and suicidal, and they hallucinate. According to Townsend and Morgan, (2017), only about 75% of mentally ill people suffer auditory and visual hallucination. Portraying everybody with a disease such as schizophrenia as a victim of hallucinations stereotypes and discriminate everybody living with the disease and further portraying these illnesses as unrecoverable and untreatable which makes it appear as though having a mental illness making an individual forever relying on other people's help, and making them look like a burden to their caregivers.

Larsen, (2018) explored the power of words with regard to talking about mental illness. In Jack (2010), the author expresses the power of language and words noting that while words cannot alter reality, they influence how reality is perceived. Language is used to develop a filter used to view the world by people. Larsen, (2018) therefore explains how stigmatisation, discrimination, and victimisation of mental illness are amplified by the language used in media when talking about the mentally ill. In commercial media, people referring to mental illness depict disapproval and this steers and promotes stigma. Some if the demeaning, sensationalist and victimising language used in media when referring to the mentally ill include; mental patient, psycho, mental institution and schizo. Also, when referring to mental illness individuals, for instance an individual with schizophrenia we refer to as schizophrenic. This immediate identification of a person with mental problems is victimising and perpetuates discrimination. Media also tends to commercialise on stories and reports regarding untreated mental illness cases. Such reports are likely to cause fear and perceive mentally ill patients as different and dangerous therefore further stigmatizing them.

Misrepresentation of mental illness on social media

With the continued growth in technology, internet-based media platforms have been created, and these are referred to as social media. While these platforms are not a part of the mainstream media comprising of TV, film, and print, it is equally being used to share and acquire information regarding the occurrences in the world (Pantic, 2014). The content in social media comprises of personal information, personal photos and documents. While an individual is responsible for the media materials they add in the "New Feeds," the content of the materials might not be personal but rather, they could be sharing another persons’ documents of information. The ability to upload a video or a document acquired from another source and allowing people to access if from one’s timeline acts as a misrepresentation of mental illness on social media (Guntuku et al., 2017). Also, considering that individuals can write comments regarding how they feel about other people's posts creates vulnerability for people diagnosed with mental illnesses. This is because sharing information about one's mental illness status might attract negative comments and views from people viewing the post thereby promoting victimisation and stigmatisation.

Naslund et al., (2016) explored the role of technology and social media on mental health. The study targeted the influence of peer-to-peer support that is facilitated by social media on mental health. As is evident, before the invention of the internet, information was mainly available on mainstream media such as TV and the radio as well as in print and books. The only place one got another person to discuss their feelings, especially if the feelings were related to mental health was in the hospital with a therapist or a psychiatric. Today, communicating about one's feelings, with the advantage of being anonymous, is possible in the social media. People access information related to mental illness and their personal feeling on the social media, sometimes even converse with doctors on the sites and work on their own to recovering from mental illness. The danger with this is that what peers offer each other, irrespective of whether their conditions are similar is not 100% truth (Guntuku et al., 2017). Also, while contacting a doctor on the social sites and interacting with them may be helpful in improving the quality of information we have about illnesses and emotions, one can never be sure that the doctor they are conversing has the qualifications needed for the particular diagnosis.

In social sites, people have come out to share some of their darkest feelings and secrets, therefore, encouraging others to speak about their mental illness symptoms such as anxiety as well as depression. Encouraging people to speak to people who are experiencing challenges as themselves is presumably seen as a therapeutic exercise. And while speaking out is a first step to admitting one is having mental illness signs, it is misrepresented a treatment for mental illness. Irrespective of the stage of symptoms, people should seek professional help in medical institutions and not any other place (Guntuku et al., 2017).

Studies regarding the negative influence of social media on health relating the mind have emerged amid the use of the platform to share information regarding mental illness. Tandoc, Ferrucci and Duffy, (2015) concluded that social media envy has a relationship to depression and anxiety among college students. Ryan et al., (2014) insisted that the addictive use of social networking sites is attributed to anxiety among young people as one continued use of social media such Facebook has been found to trigger feelings of envy which will likely trigger depression.

Conclusion

The in-depth exploration of the negative impacts of how mental illnesses are presented in the media allowed for the study of common themes of negativity. The themes explored consisted of mental illnesses misrepresentation, stigmatisation, and negative depiction. Research on the role of media in influencing public perception of mental illness revealed that people use media as the main information source on mental health. An exploration of the effectiveness of media to influence people's attitudes revealed that people view the world based on the opinions and information they gather from the media. As such, media has a significant impact on how people relate with the mentally illness as well as their understanding and perceptions on mental health.

It was established that mental illness is hugely misrepresented; the mentally ill are depicted as risky, dangerous, violent, unwanted, asocial and unpredictable individuals. Also, messages constantly displayed by the media regarding mental illness promote victimisation, discrimination, and stigmatisation of people with mental illness. Also, information availed by media and social media is in most cases inaccurate, sensational, insensitive and victimising.

Having looked at the misrepresentation and stigmatization caused by the way mental illness is shown in the media, it is important to consider some of the things that can be done to portray mental illness as an issue in the society that needs to be countered communally and not left for the victims to take blame for their conditions. Based on the observations and conclusions made in this essay, the following are some of the recommendations made. Further, the analysis of the media’s role in shaping individual's behaviour and attitudes when it comes to mental illness showed that the media is the most influence because it is the main information source on mental illness and health for both the mentally ill and the general population. There is no doubt therefore that the most effective way, to destigmatise mental illness by providing accurate data, is using the same media platforms to depict mental illness in a positive way.

First, as has been identified, movies, TV drama shows, and commercials and social media, are the main media platforms that misrepresent mental illness and also presents misconception on mental health. It is there paramount that mental health advocates get a clear comprehension of how the misrepresentation is disseminated to understand how to rectify this problem. To achieve this, a thorough analysis of the media is necessary. This will help comprehend what is considered as news and what is emotionally arousing, yet verifiable. This process will involve analysing the production procedures, production practices and value attached to a portrayal. Understanding what material will be newsworthy and will equally trigger emotions of the viewers is important in the planning of what information media consumers will consume and which will positively depict mental health. It is also important for the media producers to only include a mental illness character of the case when it is very relevant to the storyline; TV show producers must stop including scenes of mentally ill people in a series drama unless it is a very crucial element of the story they are trying to tell.

Besides, instead of having a character acting like a mentally ill person, especially in medical TV series dramas, media production should dwell on describing mental health. By doing this, the media will remove the focus from the societal aspects of mental illness to mental health as a societal issue that communities must learn to deal and live with. This will help reduce discrimination and stigmatisation of mentally ill people.

Misrepresentation and inaccurate information observed in the discussion above results from little or lack of knowledge by the media producers. To deal with this problem, it is advocated that an expert's input should be incorporated in a production. Involving psychiatrists before portraying any information regarding mental illness symptoms, behaviours and treatments would ensure that all data available for the public in media is accurate and is a correct representation of mental illness. As well, consulting an expert is important in ensuring that mental health-terminologies are used with precision and expertise there preventing misconceptions.

References

• Angermeyer, M.C., Dietrich, S., Pott, D. and Matschinger, H., 2005. Media consumption and desire for social distance towards people with schizophrenia. European Psychiatry, 20(3), pp.246-250. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15935424
• Benbow, A., 2007. Mental illness, stigma, and the media. The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 68, pp.31-35. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/2e5b/9285fa61b75efcb46b5da9fee8f64a04f722.pdf
• Botha, U.A., Koen, L. and Niehaus, D.J., 2006. Perceptions of a South African schizophrenia population with regards to community attitudes towards their illness. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 41(8), pp.619-623. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16733630
• Guntuku, S.C., Yaden, D.B., Kern, M.L., Ungar, L.H. and Eichstaedt, J.C., 2017. Detecting depression and mental illness on social media: an integrative review. Current Opinion in Behavioural Sciences, 18, pp.43-49. https://wwbp.org/papers/detecting_depression_twitter_2017.pdf
• Happer, C. and Philo, G., 2013. The role of the media in the construction of public belief and social change. Journal of social and political psychology, 1(1), pp.321-336. https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/95393/1/95393.pdf
• Jack. S., November., 2010. Words Have Power. Words have power. Choose them wisely. Psychology Today. Available in https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/let-their-words-do-the-talking/201011/words-have-power. (Accessed 2nd Feb 2019).
• Jessica A. G, September, 2018. Mental Illness is All Over TV- Here is why that’s not always a good thing. Available in https://www.instyle.com/mental-health-on-tv. (Accessed 2nd Feb 2019)
• Larsen, T., July, 2018. When Talking About Metal Illness, Words Matter. Psych Central. Available in https://psychcentral.com/blog/when-talking-about-mental-illness-words-matter/ (Accessed 2nd Feb 2019)
• Naslund, J.A., Aschbrenner, K.A., Marsch, L.A. and Bartels, S.J., 2016. The future of mental health care: peer-to-peer support and social media. Epidemiology and psychiatric sciences, 25(2), pp.113-122. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/epidemiology-and-psychiatric-sciences/article/future-of-mental-health-care-peertopeer-support-and-social-media/DC0FB362B67DF2A48D42D487ED07C783#
• Naveed S., December, 2018. How the Stigma of Mental Health is Spread by Mass Media. Available in https://www.verywellmind.com/mental-health-stigmas-in-mass-media-4153888. (Accessed 2nd Feb 2019).
• Pantic, I., 2014. Online social networking and mental health. Cyberpsychology, Behaviour, and Social Networking, 17(10), pp.652-657. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4183915/
• Pirkis, J. and Francis, C., 2012. Mental illness in the news and the information media. A critical review. https://mindframe.org.au/mental-health/evidence-research
• Ryan, T., Chester, A., Reece, J. and Xenos, S., 2014. The uses and abuses of Facebook: A review of Facebook addiction. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25317337
• Sampietro, H.M., 2010. Mental Illness and Violence in the Media. An Illicit Association? https://www.activament.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Mental-Illness-and-Violence-in-the-Media.-An-Illicit-Association..pdf
• Srivastava, K., Chaudhury, S., Bhat, P.S. and Mujawar, S., 2018. Media and mental health. Industrial psychiatry journal, 27(1), p.1. https://www.industrialpsychiatry.org/article.asp?issn=0972-6748;year=2018;volume=27;issue=1;spage=1;epage=5;aulast=Srivastava
• Tandoc, E.C., Ferrucci, P. and Duffy, M., 2015. Facebook use, envy, and depression among college students: Is facebooking depressing? Computers in Human Behaviour, 43, pp.139-146. https://isiarticles.com/bundles/Article/pre/pdf/29798.pdf
• Tartakovsky, M., 2009. Media’s damaging depictions of mental illness. Psych Central, pp.1-2. https://psychcentral.com/lib/medias-damaging-depictions-of-mental-illness/
• Townsend, M.C. and Morgan, K.I., 2017. Psychiatric mental health nursing: Concepts of care in evidence-based practice. FA Davis. https://sbmu.ac.ir/uploads/townsend2009.pdf
• Valkenburg, P.M., Peter, J. and Walther, J.B., 2016. Media effects: Theory and research. Annual review of psychology, 67, pp.315-338. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281554023_Media_Effects_Theory_and_Research
• Wallace, A., Moore, A., Fase, D. and Briscese, W., 2013. Fact or Fiction? Stereotypes of Older Australians. Australian Human Rights Commission. https://www.humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/document/publication/Fact%20or%20Fiction_2013_WebVersion_FINAL_0.pdf
• Wilson, C., Nairn, R., Coverdale, J. and Panapa, A., 1999. Mental illness depictions in prime-time drama: identifying the discursive resources. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 33(2), pp.232-239. https://www.brown.uk.com/stigma/wilson.pdf
• World Health Organization, 2017. Preventing suicide: a resource for media professionals, update 2017. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/258814/WHO-MSD-MER-17.5-eng.pdf;jsessionid=EEC02A078980AD7888479877D10C99F6?sequence=1