Story Development: The big screen, small screen or the stage can be a point of engagement or point of withdrawal from mental health assistance or services.

Verbal storytelling and writing stories are triggered by an idea, an event, an emotion, and a person’s present and past histories. Stories touch our soul. Media can potentially have a powerful effect on the listener or the watcher.  Realistic and accurate portrayals and evidenced based representations of mental illnesses are our imperatives.   Portraying mental illness and its treatment in entertainment media requires special attention. The improper portrayal can possibly affect the individual needing services since general media or entertainment media maybe the point of first contact instead of a medical or psychological provider’s office.

Based on figures from National Alliance for Mental Illness (2023):

  • 57% of people who sought mental health or substance use (MH/SUD) care were unable to access any care on at least one occasion between January 2019 and April 2022.
  • Nearly 70% of adolescents seeking MH/SUD care did not receive any care on at least one occasion during the time period, compared to only 20% for physical health care.
  • 39% of people with employer-sponsored health insurance reported using at least one out-of-network provider for MH/SUD outpatient care, compared to just 15% for physical health care.
  • Some people found in-patient care, but it wasn’t easy. Two in five individuals who successfully made an appointment with a new in-network MH/SUD provider had to contact four or more providers before securing an appointment

More information: (https://www.nami.org/nami-news/new-report-shows-remarkable-lack-of-access-to-mental-health-care/)

Seeking help can be a stigmatizing experience. A negative perception of seeking help may have detrimental effects on the person and the family in certain situations.

What is stigma?

“People experience feelings of stigma when another person mistreats them or thinks badly about them because of a behavior, characteristic, or trait. Stigma, whether caused by bias, purposeful exclusion, or a lack of understanding about the causes for a personal struggle, is harmful.”

KEY POINTS from the CDC:

  • Stigma refers to negative attitudes, beliefs, and stereotypes people may hold towards those who experience mental health conditions.
  • Stigma can prevent or delay people from seeking care or cause them to discontinue treatment.
  • We can all play a part in helping to reduce mental health stigma.

For more information from the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/stop-overdose/stigma-reduction/index.html

“As a child, I had relatives who had persistent mental health conditions, they were impacted by stigmization and discrimination. All of us are at risk for mental illness.  Seeing oneself  in media, helps us to feel understood. Being understood brings self-acceptance.”  Rodgers Wilson, M.D.

Stigma: What is it?

Based on figures from National Alliance for Mental Illness (2023):

  • 57% of people who sought mental health or substance use (MH/SUD) care were unable to access any care on at least one occasion between January 2019 and April 2022.
  • Nearly 70% of adolescents seeking MH/SUD care did not receive any care on at least one occasion during the time period, compared to only 20% for physical health care.
  • 39% of people with employer-sponsored health insurance reported using at least one out-of-network provider for MH/SUD outpatient care, compared to just 15% for physical health care.
  • Some people found in-patient care, but it wasn’t easy. Two in five individuals who successfully made an appointment with a new in-network MH/SUD provider had to contact four or more providers before securing an appointment

More information: (New Report Shows Remarkable Lack of Access to Mental Health Care)
Seeking help can be a stigmatizing experience. A negative perception of seeking help may have detrimental effects on the person and the family in certain situations.
What is stigma?

“People experience feelings of stigma when another person mistreats them or thinks badly about them because of a behavior, characteristic, or trait. Stigma, whether caused by bias, purposeful exclusion, or a lack of understanding about the causes for a personal struggle, is harmful.”

KEY POINTS from the CDC:

  • Stigma refers to negative attitudes, beliefs, and stereotypes people may hold towards those who experience mental health conditions.
  • Stigma can prevent or delay people from seeking care or cause them to discontinue treatment.
  • We can all play a part in helping to reduce mental health stigma.

For more information from the CDC: Stigma Reduction

MEDIA AND STIGMA

“Studies consistently show that both entertainment and news media provide overwhelmingly dramatic and distorted images of mental illness that emphasise dangerousness, criminality and unpredictability. They also model negative reactions to the mentally ill, including fear, rejection, derision and ridicule. The consequences of negative media images for people who have a mental illness are profound. They impair self-esteem, help-seeking behaviours, medication adherence and overall recovery. Mental health advocates blame the media for promoting stigma and discrimination toward people with a mental illness. However, the media may also be an important ally in challenging public prejudices, initiating public debate, and projecting positive, human interest stories about people who live with mental illness. “(Stuart H. Media portrayal of mental illness and its treatments: what effect does it have on people with mental illness? CNS Drugs. 2006;20(2):99-106. doi: 10.2165/00023210-200620020-00002. PMID: 16478286.)

*For additional information specific to media and stigma:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16478286/