Can the Media be Blamed for the Mental Illness Stigma?

After the mass shootings at the movie theatre in Aurora, Colorado, the expressionless, wide-eyed stare of the man alleged to be the gunman appeared all over television news, newspapers, and on news websites. There was a great deal of commentary about whether and what type of mental illness the man suffered. Just a few months later, the New York Times and other reputable sources reported that the young man responsible for the school massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, had autism.

Knowledgeable commentators¹ have debunked the relationship between autism and violence. Many people, understandably, have asked whether the media fosters the mental illness stigma.

Unwittingly, perhaps …Is The Media At Blame?

The media is not entirely to blame for the stigma of mental illness. Most mental illnesses stems from imbalances in neurochemistry, unfortunate genetics, or trauma; for example, experiences that a person feels has placed their survival in danger. It is thought that personality disorders result from difficulty bonding or unintentional inability to parent effectively. Repeatedly watched catastrophic events on television may increase someone’s risk of an anxiety related disorders.

Media and Mental Illness Stigma

What the media can be blamed for is contributing to the social stigma of mental illness. Publicity and uninformed speculation surrounding the mental health condition of those who commit horrendous crimes leads some people to wrongly associate mental illness with violence. According to The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Association, 60 percent of the mentally ill characters portrayed in prime time television shows depict the mentally ill engaged in violent behavior.

Interestingly, a study cited in the January 2011 Harvard Mental Health Letter found that 60 percent of the people surveyed thought that people with schizophrenia were prone to violence. The truth of the matter is that people who are mentally ill are 2.5 times more likely to be the victims of violent crime. In fact, researchers in a 1998 study found that the mentally ill were no more likely to commit acts of violence that other residents of a Philadelphia neighborhood when the researchers controlled for substance abuse.

The Consequences of the Stigma

The shame and fear people experience when they think that they have mental health issues often leads them to try to hide their symptoms from family and friends. Part of hiding their mental health concerns is avoiding treatment, which can lead to the worsening of their symptoms. The intensification of symptoms makes treatment more difficult. Moreover, the stigma of mental illness often leads people to stop their treatment prematurely so they can tell their family, friends, and co-workers that the problems were just a temporary fluke.

The Media as Part of the Solution

The media can be part of the solution for dispelling the stigma of mental illness by depicting people who are functioning normally-people who are all around us who live meaningful engaging lives despite their illnesses.