Paula Shin

Sasser

IM-6/12AP

1 May 2019

The Negative Portrayal of Mental Illnesses in Mass Media

The horror film ‘Split’ is the perfect example of false portrayals of mental illness in film.

The movie illustrates a character with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) who terrorizes other

people, but those who actually experience this disorder do not present any risk of violence more

than the rest of the population. In fact, less than 4% of the individuals receiving treatment for

DID were charged with a criminal offense (“ISSTD Statement on the Movie ‘Split.’”). However,

this is not the only instance in which movies portrayed mental illnesses incorrectly. There are

various other films, news coverage, and TV shows that harm individuals suffering from mental

illnesses, such as ‘Tiny Toons Adventures’ and ‘Beauty and the Beast’, which will be discussed

further in this paper. In an attempt to boost their ratings and increase the amount of viewers,

movies and TV shows portray individuals with mental illnesses negatively and often incorrectly.

The false portrayal of mental illnesses creates stereotypes and demeaning language to describe

those with mental illnesses. There are numerous ways to combat these negative stereotypes

through strategies to eliminate stigma, future research, and networks that portray them

incorrectly. Media has the ability to create false perceptions about mental illnesses, generating a Commented [1]: intro

stigma against them, but public health campaigns can combat the stigma surrounding mental

illnesses. Commented [2]: thesis

Sources of media such as newspaper articles and television shows are extremely popular

among the general public to see entertainment and receive information from. One piece of
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information that the media teaches their audiences is that individuals with mental illnesses are

dangerous or violent. The portrayal of these individuals in the media and different forms of

entertainment is more often negative than positive, due to the influence and hasty efforts of news

articles and tv networks. Commented [3]: intro for control 1

Mass media is the most influential source that disperses information about mental

illnesses for “those without personal exposure to mental illness, learn and come into contact with

issues surrounding health” (Chen 1). However, for the articles that explore the topic of mental

health, more than 50% of them were “negative in tone” (Chen 1). In addition to newspapers,

television is also a popular source for the general public to receive more information about the

topic of individuals with mental illnesses, a common theme in TV programs. In the US, ⅕th of

prime television programs depict some aspect of mental illnesses (Stuart 1). The coverage of

mental illnesses in the media and entertainment provide help for young people experiencing

mental distress (Henderson 1). Television helps influence people’s beliefs, and the wrong

message can create false judgements among those who do experience mental health conditions

and those who do not. Commented [4]: subidea 1 for control 1

Overgeneralizing the symptoms of the individuals with mental illnesses further condemns

these illnesses. When newspaper articles cover a certain mental illness, they perpetuate the idea

that those associated with the illness are “dangerous” (Wahl 2) or are “dangerous time bombs

waiting to explode” (“Stigma” 1). According to a study conducted by Wahl, “Of all [news]

stories, 26% involved accounts of crimes and/or violence perpetuated by a person with a mental

illness” (2). A similar idea occurs in TV programs; a majority of the “characters with a mental

illness hurt or kill others” (Granello 1). This popular portrayal of characters is entirely false;

“92% of people with mental health problems show no indication of ever being violent” (Granello
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1). Not only does this stigmatize the illness, but it also affects the audience. This incorrect

depiction is concerning because television shows have become an important and prevalent aspect

of American life. Those who read an article about the dangerousness of mental illness have a

greater tendency to view those with mental illness as dangerous, anxiety provoking, and in need

of restriction (Wahl 3). Also, the most stereotypical characteristics are used to describe these

characters, isolating them from the rest of society, creating an idea in the audience that mentally

ill people are not normal and cannot function properly. Commented [5]: subidea 2 for control 1

The networks’ determination to garner more views contributes to the idea of negative

stereotypes. The dangerousness of individuals with mental illnesses is emphasized by camera

angles, lighting, and inharmonious music to appeal to the audience’s fear (Henderson 1). When

TV program creators decide to introduce a mentally ill character, they often skip over the

complexities of the illness a character might be dealing with, and instead, describe the character

using derogatory words such as “insane, mental, crazed, deranged, nut” (Frankham 1). For

example, in the animated cartoon ‘Tiny Toons Adventures’, a group of “evil villains” were

labeled as “twisted, sick or nuts”, greatly stereotyping these characters by indicating that they

were unable to control themselves. However, producers typically believe that “they won’t be

able to please everyone who has that condition” (Henderson 1), allowing them to get away with

only providing a brief generalization that fuels the common misconceptions about the illness.

There is a disconnect between the producers of a show who want to attract the most viewers, and

individuals who genuinely experience the illness, generating false information and incorrectly

informing the audience. Commented [6]: subidea 3 for control 1

These generalizations affect the mindset that many people carry about the behavior of

individuals with mental illnesses. The portrayal of these individuals suffering from mental
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illnesses in the media and different forms of entertainment is more often negative than positive,

stemming from a lack of knowledge, which can be alleviated with proper research. Commented [7]: conclusion for control 1

The incorrect portrayal of mental illnesses in entertainment is due to a lack of public

information available. When mental illnesses are shown as the factors that completely controls

the actions of those who suffer from them, audiences have an inclination to believe these

portrayals, due to a lack of other exposure. These portrayals influence the opinions of the

audience, forcing them to become closed-minded. Ultimately, this causes the public to stereotype

certain illnesses. This also contributes to both a public and internal shame against mental

illnesses. Commented [8]: intro for control 2

The word stigma originates from labels that devalued individuals of lower stature from

the ancient Greek social structure. According to Arboleda-Flórez, the label that was placed on

individuals, sitzein, demoralized their values. However it was not utilized to characterize mental

illnesses. Historically, mental illnesses have generally been perceived as weaknesses in

character, because “[Greeks] believed that the mentally ill carried a connotation of shame and

weakness of character,” (Arboleda-Flórez 1) which has carried on to current times and is still

found in modern societies. Those with mental illnesses were perceived as unable to contribute to

the group’s survival and as threats to their well-being. These reasons were utilized to justify

isolating those individuals. Commented [9]: subidea 1 for control 2

Not only does the meaning of the word ‘stigma’ for centuries contribute to the

debilitating nature of the beliefs of mental illnesses, a misunderstanding of mental illnesses also

leads to public stigma, which represents the negative beliefs, attitudes, and the common

misconceptions about mental illness. These unnerving perceptions eventually lead to

stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination against those suffering from a mental disorder
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(Conner 1). Stigma comprises 5 different aspects: labeling, stereotyping, separation, status loss,

and discrimination (Conner 1). Labeling distinguishes human differences in appearance and

behavior. Stereotyping results from cultural attitudes/beliefs that connect human appearances,

conditions, and behaviors to negative stereotypes. Separation holds the same idea as isolation;

individuals with an unattractive quality or a condition are separated from the rest of society and

seen as undesirable. Those who experience status loss are looked down upon and are inferior to

those who don’t suffer from a label. This leads to discrimination, which is being treated

differently by others because of a label distinguishing human differences. Commented [10]: subidea 2 for control 2

In addition to facing public stigma and judgement from other members of society,

individuals with mental health issues may suffer from internalized stigma, which significantly

impairs their thinking (Conner 1). These people, upon hearing the reactions of those who

perceive mental illnesses, often believe that they are “responsible for their condition” (Conner 1).

This results in a feeling of self-worthlessness because they are part of a stigmatized group,

creating barriers to seek help. These feelings can be internalized within the family, and people do

not consider seeking professional mental health treatment. Self-stigma does not only affect their

thinking, but also their quality of life. Corrigan states that “people with mental illness are robbed

of the opportunities that define a quality life: good jobs, safe housing, satisfactory health care,

and affiliation with a diverse group of people”. Members of stigmatized groups often have less

access to educational opportunities, well-paying jobs, and adequate health care (“Stigma” 1).

This can worsen the stress that people with mental illnesses undergo. Stigma creates unnecessary

stress for those involved, affecting the lives of marginalized groups and preventing them from

seeking easily obtainable help. In addition, stigma tends to increase the likelihood of an

individual’s relapse. A mental disorder is not visible as physical handicaps are, so many people
 Shin 6

with mental disorders experience “strain trying to conceal their condition from strangers or

casual acquaintances” (“Stigma”). Commented [11]: subidea 3 for control 2

People have been labeling and devaluing individuals who suffer from a mental illness for

centuries. By demoralizing their values, in addition to labeling, stereotyping, separation, losing

one’s status, and discrimination, stigma damages the sensible reasoning of the individuals with

mental illness. In addition, these individuals resort to extreme measures to release their problems,

resulting in internalized stigma, significantly impairing not only their thinking, but also their

lifestyles. Commented [12]: conclusion for control 2

There are numerous ways to approach the abundance of false information that causes

stigmatizing attitudes. This can be accomplished by looking into TV networks and producers.

With the help of mental health professionals, implementing public health campaigns can help

create forms of entertainment that depict mental illnesses correctly. Commented [13]: intro for control 3

There are 3 strategies to eliminate stigma as a whole: protest, educate, and contact.

According to Conner, protesting can help reduce public stigma by replacing “negative

stereotypical representations of people living with mental illness with more accurate and

empathic ones” (1). “Groups protest inaccurate and hostile representations of mental illness as a

way to challenge the stigmas they represent,” (Corrigan 1). Educating the public is another

method that can be used to eliminate stigma. Public education campaigns fight against stigma by

replacing myths about mental illness with facts. Education helps the public make more informed

decisions about mental illness (Corrigan 1). Lastly, specifically contacting the institutions that

produce entertainment is effective. Directly contacting these institutions allows for different

groups to view issues in another perspective and connect with individuals as normal people.

There are two reasons to the main goal of challenging misrepresentations. They are for the media
 Shin 7

to stop portraying inaccurate representations of mental illness and for the public to not believe

these negative views about mental illness (Corrigan 1). Commented [14]: subidea 1 for control 3

In order to reduce the exposure to stigmatizing phrases, researchers must recognize and

change the influences behind stigmatizing ideals among children. One major influence is the

popular Disney movie, ‘Beauty and the Beast’. In this movie, the protagonist, Belle, and her

father are portrayed as mentally ill, and hurtful words are used to isolate them, such as the father

being hauled away in a “lunacy wagon” (Lawson 3). Due to the importance this movie holds as

entertainment for children, the derogatory words could allow children to view mental illness as

being different in a negative and inferior way, and as those who are very frightening. In

Lawson’s article, she identifies a few suggestions for future researchers to uncover. First, the

behaviors of the mentally ill individuals in movies and TVs should be analyzed to determine

what factors that children may pick up on and use in the future. Next, researchers should analyze

the “emotional aspect of viewing content” (Lawson). In doing this, they would be able to utilize

the reactions of the characters on both sides of stigma. Then, researchers must identify a

relationship between children’s exposure to this type of material and how it contribute to the

attitudes and behaviors of children, and with this information, researchers should address

whether correlation does equal causation for the relationship between children’s tv watching time

and the tolerance towards mental illnesses. Commented [15]: subidea 2 for control 3

Tackling the issue of the false portrayals of mental illness would become the most

effective by protesting, educating, and contacting media outlets and TV stations, with the help of

professionals directly correlated to forms of media; journalists, and mental health counselors,

who can help create effective change. Journalists play an integral role in developing news stories,

many of which further the narrative that individuals with mental illnesses are far more dangerous
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than they really are, so they would be an important part in the plan to reduce stigma. Before

reporting information, journalists should consult several different perspectives in the mental

health field and discover effective interventions that do not merely focus on medications and

hospitals (Wahl 6). In addition, journalists should report about positive stories about recovery

and achievement, instead of the stories the display the mentally ill as unable to improve. In

addition, mental health counselors play a huge role in fighting the stigma in the media. Working

alongside the media, counselor could provide more accurate information for the media to report.

Also, mental health counselors can write to TV stations, participate in public information

campaigns, encouraging the general public to do the same. Commented [16]: subidea 3 for control 3

By utilizing the 3 strategies to eliminate stigma, not only can researchers identify ways to

reduce the stigma among young people, but journalists and mental health counselors can also

utilize them actively. Protesting, educating, and contacting the media can help creat effective

change in helping educate the public. Commented [17]: conclusion for control 3

News coverage, movies, and TV shows portray mental illnesses negatively and

incorrectly, in a hasty attempt to boost their ratings and increase the amount of viewers. This

false portrayal of mental illnesses is due to pure ignorance, which creates stereotypes and allows

not only adults to use demeaning language to describe those with mental illnesses, but also

teaches them to young children. Because mental disorders cannot be seen, they are not perceived

as an issue of important value as physical disorders. This contributes to a public stigma against

common illnesses and influences their opinions, forcing them to become close-minded and place

labels. With sensitivity to the adjectives used, portrayals in the media and entertainment can get

rid of negative stereotypes and create a stigma-free environment. Commented [18]: conclusion
 Shin 9

Works Cited

Arboleda-Flórez, Julio. “What causes stigma?” World psychiatry: official journal of the World

Psychiatric Association (WPA) vol. 1,1 (2002): 25-6.

Chen, Marian and Stephen Lawrie. “Newspaper depictions of mental and physical health”

BJPsych bulletin vol. 41,6 (2017): 308-313.

Conner, Kyaien O., et al. "Stigma: Impact on Mental Health and People of Color." People of

Color in the United States: Contemporary Issues in Education, Work, Communities,

Health, and Immigration, edited by Kofi Lomotey, vol. 3: Health and Wellness,

Greenwood, 2016, pp. 326-332. Gale Virtual Reference Library.

Corrigan, Patrick W, and Amy C Watson. “Understanding the impact of stigma on people with

mental illness” World psychiatry: official journal of the World Psychiatric Association
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(WPA) vol. 1,1 (2002): 16-20.

Frankham, Emma. “Stigmatizing Media Portrayals: What Can We Do? | NAMI: National

Alliance on Mental Illness.” National Alliance on Mental Illness, 23 Oct. 2017.

Granello, Darcy Haag, and Pamela S. Pauley. “Television Viewing Habits and Their

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