[Shorts] Fighting stigma in mental health one issue at a time: pt. 1
You probably recognize the person in the picture above. You probably know about his rigid thought processes, muted emotions, and his inability to perceive social cues.
The assertion from the public, arm-chaired doctors is that he likely suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome, or known in the DSM-V as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), with a lower level of severity.
I have to mention that the creators of the show have stated that they did not create Sheldon from an ASD archetype, they just created a character with, as they describe it, “Sheldony” characteristics. They actually felt uncomfortable labeling him with any diagnosis (thank you, Bill Prady).
Regardless, Sheldon Cooper has now become the recognizable face of autism. It has done a lot in bringing much needed notoriety to this population. But it does come with unintended consequences.
As with many notable characters in books, TV shows, and movies, we tend to generalize these representations to the masses.
- This is what all people with ASD look like!
- People with major depression are always suicidal and cut themselves
- Schizophrenics are so messy and unorganized
We often get a sensationalized and over the top representations of a disorder. Stories and plots need to be intriguing, so it makes sense for a writer/creator to take creative license on how a certain disorder is displayed.
We, as consumers of entertainment, must be mindful of this. Always. And not just in the entertainment industry, but those we meet in our lives. No one person or character represents the vast spectrum of any mental illness. It is marginalizing as well as spreading misinformation about what to expect from a mental illness.
As we say in my field:
“If you’ve met on person with major depression, you’ve met one person with major depression”
A very nice episode on the history of Autism. Also answers many of the myths attributed to ASD.
