[1] As media is often the primary way people are exposed to mental illnesses, when portrayals are inaccurate, they further perpetuate stereotypes, stigma, and discriminatory behavior.
[5] According to the Robert Wood Foundation, the primary way Americans gain information about mental illnesses is through mass media, more specifically, television and news.
First introduced in the early 1900s, films like Dr. Mabuse, the Gambler(1922) and The Black Cat (1934) depicted the mentally ill villains as mad, evil doctors.
[2] The 1970s and 1980s brought the popular "slasher" film genre, introducing iconic horror characters such as Michael Myers, Jason, and Freddy Kruger from the franchises Halloween, Friday the 13th, and A Nightmare on Elm Street, respectively.
[2] However, as film and television programs utilize this trope for dramatic storytelling, the public often falsely assumes that the real world mirrors the mass media depictions.
Finally, nearly 50 years after one of the inaugural studies that analyzed the overuse of mentally ill, violent characters in media, the misconception persists, even into the 21st century.
The individuals are then confronted with an ultimatum in which they must decide whether to seek rehabilitation or risk losing family, friends, shelter, and, in most cases, financial assistance.
For instance, the character Miss Ackerman from iCarly was described as “crazy” and “looney.” The study concluded that progress in addressing mental illness representation in children's television has been limited, with many negative portrayals still present.
[24] 13 Reasons Why is a Netflix original[25] with the plot surrounding a high school female, Hannah Baker, who commits suicide in the season one finale.
[4] When audiences are granted the opportunity to engage in parasocial contact, they tend to form more positive attitudes, thoughts, and beliefs about the illness and the people experiencing it.
[4] Similarly, The World Health Organization also provides guidelines for news outlets when discussing suicide to prevent cases of the Werther Effect.
"[29] Campbell wrote of the struggle to bring understanding to mental illness, and described Knight's article as "unhelpful, potentially damaging and certainly show[ing that] we still have quite a way to go.
[30] Furthermore, when news outlets depict mentally ill people as violent, there is a resulting increased demand by the public for “forced treatment,” as exemplified in the tragedy that led to New York’s establishment of Kendra’s Law.
As the public becomes more aware of the stereotypical nature of mental illness depictions, there is an increasing number of studies being done to examine how media messages can positively affect audiences by decreasing stigma.
[4] Research has found that news stories are much more likely to produce positive audience comments and reactions if they use counter-stigmatism in their storytelling rather than stereotypes and discriminatory language.
Even though there are some concerns that movies are not intended for educational purposes but for entertainment, researchers suggest that films provide positive outcomes in students’ learning experiences.
Stars, including Lady Gaga, Serena Williams, Adele, and Dwayne Johnson, have recently disclosed their mental health journeys.
When a celebrity reveals their mental health struggles and remains successful and respected, it can help reduce the fear of facing negative consequences for sharing personal experiences.
Regarding this, the study found that it could make the children stick with the significant levels of stigmatization in negatively labeling individuals with mental illness even when they grow up.
Another troubling effect is that stereotypical imagery, coupled with the lack of alternative viewpoints, further dissuades mentally ill people from seeking help or treatment.
[2] These feelings may lead people with mental illnesses to distance themselves from loved ones and often avoid seeking help or treatment due to fear of rejection.
There is current research that explores the role social media has in assisting people find resources and networks to support one's mental health.
[48] TikTok videos promoting either self-diagnosis or possible symptoms of different illnesses has caused an increase of internet users to believe they have a disorder, when in reality they may or may not.
[49] Other trends, including "What I eat in a day" Tiktoks, have been also labeled as harmful by health professionals, since these videos may lead viewers to habits of unhealthy comparison and goals of developing the "societal accepted body".
"[52] Tumblr staff attempted to prevent the use of their platform for romanticizing mental illness by changing their policies in 2012 to prohibit content actively promoting or depicting self harm and showing Public Service Announcements instead of results when users search keywords related to self-harm, such as "proana," "thinspo," "thinspiration," "purge," "bulimia," "anorexic," and more.
[39] Internet Memes have become more popular in recent years, with many online platforms sharing content that reflects the experiences of people with various mental health conditions, such as anxiety, borderline personality disorder, suicidal thoughts, and depression.
[58] Mass media is not necessarily the root cause of the public's general misconception or judgment of people experiencing mental illness.
In this case, fans may feel more compelled to share resources for treatment, research the illness, or participate in discussions of mental health in person and within online communities.
[39] The portrayal of mental illness in media, including film and television shows, is presented in various forms since the advancement in technology occurs over time with easier access.
[4] Consumers becoming prosumers or produsers opens the door for people to challenge the long-standing stigmas and stereotypes present within traditional media platforms.