“When we first studied the portrayal of mental illness on television…it was pulling public conceptions in the opposite direction. The network agreed to moderate the medieval imagery, and even cautioned writers to avoid the term ‘crazy’ unless really warranted. Than came the success of the Physo, and the guidelines went out the window.” By the way Physo is a film or a movie they put out. They started out with what would be the perfect world, but it didn’t sale. We had to go the other extreme and mistreat the mental illnesses. That would be a good solution, but I guess it didn’t sale so it all went out the window.
“The typical viewer of prime time television drama sees an average of three characters labeled mentally ill each week, one in about every 11 programmes.(11)” Many are labeled and miss thought of because of the labels on T.V. We need help with the labels and on surviving as a mentally ill person in this country.
“That total environment, rather than occasional and selectively used stories and programmes, affects most of what we think and do.(11)” We have interpretations and media telling us how to think. We should get educated about things and not just trust the media. We should then be able to make better judgments on how things really are.
“Portrayals of mental illness pervading that environment cultivate some of the most damaging images of our culture. As long as that persists, even the best and most successful campaigns will fail to change the stigma and fear of mental illness.(11)” So once the label has stuck we have troubles changing how the world sees mental illnesses. This should be looked into being changed. They should teach the truth.
“This lopsided ‘victimization ratio’ cultivates a sense of vulnerability and dependence characteristic of powerlessness. Mentally ill characters are both violent and the most victimized single group on television, and not much different in other major media. Furthermore, violence and retribution are shown as inherent in the illness itself and thus inescapable.(11)” It is not fair to be taught that we are not able to succeed just because of a mental illness. Not fair.