Self-stigmatization: How the media perpetuates it

Television and film have always been an escape from reality for me and many others. As most people know, there’s a sense of relief when we see a character struggle with issues we thought were unique to us- it sends the message that ‘You’re not alone’. I watch shows and movies in an effort to better understand myself; I yearn to connect and relate to characters that share the same experiences as I do. After being diagnosed with ADHD when I was eight, I turned towards TV and film to help me understand why I was the way I was. Big mistake. In Hollywood’s mind, I’m hyperactive to the point of mania, unintelligent, and unable to focus on anything at all whose only redeeming quality was humor, usually based on the assumption that the character is an idiot. Oh, and apparently in Hollywood, women can’t have ADHD. The one ADHD character that I could actually relate to was Jake Peralta from Brooklyn Nine-Nine, another man. Hollywood’s projection of stereotypical ADHD characters was ingrained into my parents’ minds- their gifted, quiet, creative daughter couldn’t have a mental illness like that. I thought I couldn’t either: I wasn’t disruptive or hyperactive, but I was a daydreamer and bounced from task to task like a pinball machine. That’s why I got tested and diagnosed again when I was twelve. It made no sense- I wasn’t anything like those characters I saw on TV and in movies. At least I didn’t think I was. Maybe I was the dumb, funny friend

It’s not just ADHD that gets misrepresented and romanticized in the entertainment industry- it’s every mental illness. Granted, Hollywood has made strides with shows like Euphoria, Bojack Horseman, and, my personal favorite, Ted Lasso. But that still doesn’t negate the inaccurate and harmful portrayals of mental illness that have run rampant through the media for decades and still somehow find their way to the screens to this day. 

Portrayals of Mental Illness

Accurate depictions

One of the most accurate depictions of mental illness is found in the show Ted Lasso. Ted is an upbeat, optimistic, fun-loving guy who also suffers from panic attacks. The panic attacks in the show are the most realistic ones I’ve seen on television: it comes when he least expects it, he has shaking and numb hands, not being able to breathe, and uncontrollable crying. Additionally, the writers of the show did an incredible job of making sure Ted seemed like the last person on earth who would have panic attacks, but he still does. They make sure to emphasize the fact that his optimistic, upbeat persona is just a coping mechanism. This sheds light on the fact that even the people you least expect to struggle with mental illness do; it reminds us to check in on everyone.

Another show that has taken an issue that is far too glamorized in the media and has made sure it’s portrayed realistically is Euphoria, which follows several high school students and their struggles with mental health, gender identity, trauma, and show the gritty reality of what it’s like to be a Gen-Z adolescent. The narrator, Rue, is a 17 year old who struggles with anxiety and opioid addiction, which the writer of the show, Sam Levinson, struggled with too. Viewers who struggle with these issues found the show to be depicted realistically, mainly because it shows the raw reality of drug addiction and mental illness. 

Inaccurate/harmful depictions

However, we all know that there are far more inaccurate depictions of mental illness in the media. One of the most recent and notable examples is the 2019 film Joker which just reiterates the misconception that mental illness leads to violence. 

A more recent trend in the media is the romanticization of mental illness. The first work that comes to mind is the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why, which follows the aftermath of the suicide of a high school girl and the cassette tapes she leaves behind. The show dramatized and glorified suicide, along with showing very graphic and realistic scenes depicting suicide. In the three months after it was released, there was a sharp increase in suicide in kids ages 10-19, the target audience for the show. 

Impact on Audience

Self stigmatization

Perhaps the group most affected by the media’s portrayal of mental illness is that of the mentally ill population. When you see a character that has the mental illness you have, you immediately feel connected with them, even if it doesn’t describe you whatsoever. Self stigmatization is the internalized shame and negative attitudes people with mental illness have about their condition. Essentially, it’s when an individual internalizes the stereotypes of their mental illness that are perpetuated by the media. This creates a series of issues, such as low self-esteem and self-efficacy, along with being less likely to ask/receive help due to the stigma attached to mental illness. When I was first diagnosed with ADHD, I felt extreme levels of self-stigmatization. Maybe I was just the dumb, funny, kind of obnoxious friend; maybe I didn’t even have ADHD, because I didn’t act like anyone on TV with ADHD, and I really was just lazy and incompetent. Obviously, this isn’t true, but I still struggle with these thoughts every day. 

What to do about it.

The solution to this issue is simple: hire writers who actually know what they’re talking about. Work with psychiatrists and psychologists to get a professional, diagnostic grasp on characters with mental illness and the presentation of a character’s symptoms. And, most importantly, talk to people who have actually experienced whatever mental illness you’re depicting. Not just one person, but multiple people because anyone who knows a lick about mental illness will tell you that nobody’s presentation of mental illness is identical, nor is the degree to which they experience it.