A person with a disability is defined as “a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities” by the American Disabilities Act (ADA). [1] The ADA talks about mental impairments, but in our society, disabilities are still viewed in terms of physical barriers (ramps, wheelchairs, canes, designated bathrooms, and other ‘visible’ amenities). On the other hand, mental illness is not treated with the same due respect. This is particularly problematic because mental impairments can have an equally significant and lasting impact on a person’s life as physical impairments do.
The inability to leave the bed during a major depressive episode, having dyslexia, anxiety/panic attacks, lack of focus, inability to understand social cues, or other extremely difficult mental impairments are hardly ever considered disabilities. We hardly ever think of mental illness as a valid barrier to the ability to do multiple things in our daily lives.
Mental health was once considered a taboo subject. It used to be thought that having a mental illness was something that should be kept private and not discussed. The campaign to de-stigmatize mental illness over the past few years has increased coverage of mental health across many outlets. There are now many resources to discuss and learn about mental health such as; online articles, books, podcasts and documentaries.
The upcoming generation has done a fantastic job of promoting mental health awareness. Social media helped to create a space where people could share their stories without worrying about being judged or dismissed, and this helped to de-stigmatize mental illness. Social media also provides anonymity. As a result, it offers a secure setting that supports the sharing of personal experiences. It can be incredibly uplifting to communicate with someone dealing with a similar illness on a global scale.
However, by de-stigmatizing mental illness, we have unintentionally sent a harmful message. Today, mental illness is viewed as a ‘tragically beautiful’ thing by many. Simply put, mental illness is romanticized. This is risky because misinterpretations can cause more harm than good. Talking about or believing that something is better than it actually is known as romanticizing. Mental illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression have been glamorized, idealized, and sensationalized.
In reality, mental illness is a very difficult and harmful experience for those affected. It is a legitimate illness that is harmful and can affect a person’s life severely in all aspects. By romanticizing mental illness, it undermines the struggles that those with mental illness go through and could drive them away from getting the proper help that they need. It is important to remember that mental illness is not something to be taken lightly, and those struggling with mental health should not feel ashamed or embarrassed about seeking help.
The romanticization of mental health began with the misinterpretation of mental health in the media. In TV shows and movies, mental illnesses frequently serve as the punchline of jokes, which distorts the reality of living with a mental illness. When in reality, many popular shows that depict dangerous real-life struggles, they have been reduced to an aesthetic. This romanticization encourages a sensationalized atmosphere, which can be harmful and encourage disordered behaviour in people.
The popular Netflix series “Thirteen Reasons Why” based on the book, uses a very incorrect and offensive romanization. The show focused on a teenage girl who killed herself and left behind a box of tapes containing 13 reasons why she made that decision. It is implied that her suicide was a form of retaliation against her former classmates, but this is rarely the case as suicide is hardly ever planned out in a methodical way.
The problem with the show is that it made suicide look like a viable option, which turns a serious situation into a source of entertainment and reinforces the narrative for a large teenage audience that suicide is the only way to end pain.
Suicide Google searches even increased after the show was produced, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, which is directly related to actual suicides. The American Council on Science and Health shows that even a 1% increase in these searches resulted in an additional 54 fatalities.
Thousands of posts on social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr mention the controversial parts of the show and frequently use hashtags like “13reasonswhy” or “Depression.” As a result, having a disorder of any kind—whether it be anxiety, depression, or another—is now viewed as distinctive or cool.
It’s very simple to scroll through social media and discover pictures that romanticize social media and mental illness. As these images spread, more and more people lose awareness of the risks associated with mental illness and grow accustomed to a “glorified” portrayal of it. Therefore, it is referred to as disgusting when actual symptoms and behaviors are mentioned that do not match the aesthetic. Depression is romanticized up until the point where sufferers actually demonstrate an inability to take a shower, get out of bed, or maintain their personal hygiene. This makes it harder for people to understand mental health issues clearly.
It’s important to remember that having one bad experience does not automatically make someone depressed, despite the fact that this is frequently discounted in conversations. Even though feeling anxious before a big test or interview is common, this feeling has been labeled as having an anxiety disorder. Feelings of worry, anxiety, or fear that are persistent in circumstances where there would ordinarily be no reason to feel anxious and are strong enough to interfere with daily activities are signs of an anxiety disorder.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder affects 6.8 million adults or 3.1% of the U.S. population, yet only 43.2% are receiving treatment [2], and it is unacceptable for people to minimize these problems in an effort to win support and attention. For those suffering from mental illnesses, it is even more harmful.
Social media’s growth has led to an increase in people pretending to have disorders in order to attract attention. Furthermore, there is a problem with the amount of false information out there because it is very simple for anyone to post something claiming that a certain habit is a symptom of a particular disorder, even though that is plainly untrue. On platforms such as Tik Tok, there are many people that fake having tourettes, depression, schizophrenia, autism and other illnesses.
A mental illness does not make you cool or attractive; rather, it hurts, and those who are able to overcome these illnesses are strong. The romanticization and ‘want’ for mental illnesses is concerning and raises a whole bunch of questions as to why these teenagers and adults are pretending to be ill. Is it really a need for clout, influence and attention, or is there a bigger problem behind it?
It is critical to accurately portray mental illnesses and to inform people of the severity and dangers associated with them. Depression is not special. Insomnia is not staying up till 1 AM. Eating Disorders are not glamorous. OCD is not just being organized. Anxiety is not being shy. PTSD is not just having flashbacks of war. Bipolar Disorder is not being moody or emotional. Schizophrenia is not seeing things.
These conditions are actual diseases that have physical affects on the brain. They are not fun. They are not cute. They are not a fashion statement. They are plaguing.
“A romanticised depiction or interpretation has no room for reality …A portrayal isn’t equivalent to representation and it surely isn’t a substitute for lived experiences.”
REFERENCE:
- www.northwestern.edu. (n.d.). People With Disabilities: Brand Tools – Northwestern University. [online] Available at: https://www.northwestern.edu/brand/editorial-guidelines/inclusive-language-guide/people-with-disabilities/#:~:text=The%20Americans%20with%20Disabilities%20Act [Accessed 29 Dec. 2022].
- adaa.org. (n.d.). Facts & Statistics | Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA. [online] Available at: https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/facts-statistics#:~:text=Facts%20and%20Statistics- [Accessed 29 Dec. 2022].
- Tweet and WhatsApp (2022). The Dangers of Romanticising Mental Illnesses. [online] Live Wire. Available at: https://livewire.thewire.in/health/the-dangers-of-romanticising-mental-illnesses/ [Accessed 29 Dec. 2022].
