mental health

1. Portrayal of mental illness in the
media, TV and newspapers.
The way mental illness is portrayed and reported in the media is incredibly powerful in educating and influencing
the public.

2. Featuring characters with mental health problems in
soaps and dramas can have a positive impact on
people recognising illness or seeking help.
 However getting it wrong may have a really negative effect and can re-inforce stereotypes of
‘mad, bad and dangerous’
 The public appetite for television soap opera means that this format has a huge potential for
reaching large – particularly young- audiences.

3. “Time to change”
 In 2014, Time to Change, a mental health investigation organisation, worked with Glasgow Media Group to
review three months of TV drama, in order to identify themes in the way that mental health problems were
being portrayed. Time to Change also surveyed the public about the impact that mental health storylines
had on them, and sought insights from big names in the industry. On November 11th 2014, Time to Change
produced the report 'Making a Drama Out of a Crisis', which found:
 encouraging signs that mental health depictions had become more positive. More storylines had attempted
to ‘normalise’ mental health problems and fewer characters with mental health problems were portrayed as
violent.
 the growth of a relatively new type of narrative, focusing on the damaging stigma a character with a mental
health problem faces.
 the existence of some alternative stereotypes and over-simplifications, for example, about tragic victims and
medication.
 over half of the survey's respondents who recalled seeing a character with mental health problems on TV
said that this had helped to improve their understanding of such problems.
 among all those respondents who had personally experienced a mental health problem, a quarter said that
seeing a character with similar issues encouraged them to seek professional help.

4. Tips from the experts (Time to change) on
portraying characters with metal health
correctly.
 “Creating a character or a storyline around mental health doesn't have to be either dull or explosive. With one in four of us
experiencing mental health problems it is a fact of life for many viewers and getting it wrong risks annoying or alienating
much of your audience. It can be challenging but it can also be dramatic and interesting, without having to resort to
stereotypes such as 'the mad axeman'. “
 to make a character plausible and accurate, speak to as many people who have mental health problems as possible. They are
the best consultants available and most want to see accuracy on screen
 listen to people's stories and experiences. Some scriptwriters have written entire storylines about mental health problems
based on one conversation
 think about your camera shots. Certain mental health conditions can lead people to feel isolated or to experience altered
reality. This can be reflected through close up shots, POV shots or hand held
 give the storyline enough time to develop. It is common that symptoms of mental health problems will manifest over a
period of time and build in intensity, rather than develop and explode in the space of one episode
 think about how other characters react? Stigma and discrimination can be as bad as the mental health problem itself for
many people. Can you show any empathy from others?
 get expert advice from mental health charities and experts to ensure that the symptoms you are showing on screen are
relevant and realistic
 think of your dramatic climax carefully. Most people with mental health problems are not violent so it is unrealistic for a
storyline to always end in violence or homicide
 don't use a mental illness just to try and explain bad or strange behaviour.

5. Examples of mental health in films.
 “The silver linings playbook” - although a sick movie and awesomely casted, it implies that bipolar disorder
can be cured away with book-throwing, football-game-betting, dance-competition-rehearsing and
Jennifer-Lawrence-loving. The ending of the movie makes it seem like all of the mental health problems
that two main characters have instantly washed away because they are now in a relationship. However, this
is partly due to the rom-com conventions-that the two main characters eventually get together.
 “The visit” – this movie uses mental health as a scare tactic for young audiences, with out a hint of
accuracy. The filmmakers did not think about what people are able to do with the mental health issue that
they chose. While it might be a terrifying cinematic thrill to be trapped in the middle of nowhere with
escaped patients from a psychiatric hospital, the chances that they could pull off a murderous scheme is
unlikely.
 “The Soloist” - The Soloist is a movie that looks at the life of a person experiencing schizophrenia. The
movie is based on the true story of Nathanial Ayers, a promising student at the prestigious Julliard School
who experiences a mental breakdown. Steve Lopez, a journalist, meets Nathanial in Los Angeles and the
two become friends. Lopez, upon discovering that Nathanial can play the cello brilliantly, sets out on a
mission to help him with his mental health. The Soloist demonstrates how untreated mental health
challenges can contribute to a person slipping through society’s cracks. It also depicts how reaching out
can have a profound impact on the life of someone experiencing a mental health issue.