User:Deymian040/Mental illness portrayed in media

The Influence of Movies on the Public Regarding Mental Illness Representation
As a media component responsible for shaping the public’s perceptions, a previous study states that movies appear to provide significant implications in identifying the presence of mental illness in different social situations. Since many studies demonstrate different viewpoints on whether media influences in defining mental illness positively or negatively, the role of the movie is also one of the components that cannot be neglected.

Positive Cases
The research regarding the educational aspects of the film towards nurse students from all fields suggested that the films of different genres, including life stories, adventures, and others, provided practical insights in understanding the patient experience and perspectives in different environments.

Another research also found the positive aspects of the movies for educational purposes on students in medical (clinical) fields. The films appear to provide valuable lessons for the individuals in understanding the specific cases and appropriate treatment plans for patients. Even though there are some concerns that movies are not intended for educational purposes but for entertainment, researchers suggest that films provide positive outcomes in students’ learning experiences. Regarding the positive roles of the film in education, a case study analyzing the students in medical fields and found that the appropriate use of movies can provide helpful ideas in applying practical skills related to the medical fields, such as medical ethics, doctor-patient relationship, and mental illness, etc.

Negative Cases
However, there are concerning voices regarding the role of movies in shaping the younger individual’s perceptions in defining mental illness. The past research regarding the film “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)” with conducting college students found that the portrayal of mental illness can negatively influence the individual’s attitudes regarding individuals with mental illness, psychiatric institutions, etc.

In a previous research study, the researchers found that the representation of the “outcast” character with mental illness in a movie tends to get negative evaluations from the children. Regarding this, the study found that it could make the children stick with the significant levels of stigmatization in negatively labeling the individuals with the mental illness even when they grow up.

Other research specifically focuses on a particular film, Joker, found that the depiction of individuals with mental illness appears to be negative towards the audience. Regarding this, the researchers demonstrated the concerns that the film Joker can aggravate the self-stigma of individuals with mental illness with the emphasis on negative depictions.

The Modern Perceptions Regarding the Movie Portrayal of Mental Illness
The portrayal of mental illness in media, including film and television shows, is presented in various forms since the advancement in technology occurs over time with easier access. The media expert suggests the public needs to become more open to learning about mental illness by understanding significant components presented in media platforms, including film and television entertainment.

The journal article concerning depictions of the media on mental illness also emphasizes the importance of  having broader perceptions in understanding different experiences of others in addressing crucial topics related to mental illness. Since it was found that the movies are also responsible for depicting various experiences of others with mental illness, the accurate portrayal of associated characteristics is significant.

Netflix
Since it became easier for the public to access different media forms, including movies, TV series, or other programs worldwide, the popular streaming service Netflix demonstrates different approaches to mental illness with various portrayals. Amongst the series Netflix provided, the recent study exploring the series called 13 Reasons Why found that the representations of mental-health phenomena positively influence the individual’s perceptions in understanding perceived norms regarding mental health problems, such as reaching out to others for support and discussing suicide with people for prevention.