Mental Health and Media — A Death Trap
In this modern era, we have all been guilty of getting lost in the endless scrolling of our social media feeds. Certainly, these social media platforms have provided a safe place to express ourselves. They even help us shed light on significant issues and problems we might be facing.
However, despite the positive aspects, there lies a darker side — a devil’s den — where social harms thrive. While there is plenty to discuss about social media itself, we will be delving into the content that is posted on these platforms. This content can sometimes be very sensitive and triggering for many people. In fact, it is quite disheartening to see how certain people romanticize these sensitive issues.
You see, there are many different issues that are glorified on the media around us, the portrayal of mental health has become a cause of concern. This is because mental health is often oversimplified on these platforms. Conditions like depression and anxiety are trivialized and serious issues like OCD are causally joked about. And that is just the beginning.
I am quite sure you would have also seen the glamorized aesthetic mental health challenges posts on Instagram many times. This has become the new trend. However, doing this diminishes the real struggles faced by many individuals. In fact, I have also heard the worst too. Puns about people without trauma. They are seen as boring. This in turn contributes to the misguided belief that mental illness is desirable.
Unfortunately, this does not stop here. Television shows have also transitioned from stigmatizing mental illness to sensationalizing it. Now, you might say that it is positive that depression and anxiety are being discussed more openly. And that it is right. But what about the false self-diagnosis people make after watching these shows? What about the suicide and its aftermath that can mislead young viewers? What about this potentially becoming a risk factor for those already battling mental health issues?
The media’s attempt to make mental illness entertaining and aesthetically pleasing fails to represent the true challenges faced by those who suffer from such conditions. Issues like drug addiction should not be seen as glamorous but rather recognized as difficult battles that many individuals struggle to overcome.
Nevertheless, it is essential to acknowledge that not all representations of mental illness in the media are negative. It is crucial to educate ourselves and those around us about mental health challenges. Having open discussions about mental health and providing resources for those seeking help is essential. It is vital to break the cycle of misrepresentation to foster a better understanding and support for those actually dealing with mental illness.
