NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness | Stigma Alerts Archive

NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness | Stigma Alerts Archive.

If you have read my About Me page, you know that I am a strong advocate for fighting the stigma associated with mental illness. I am not sure I was completely aware of how strong it can be until I found the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Stigmabusters site.

Here are some excerpts from the Stigmabusters Archives (many are no longer listed, so I may post more as I have time):

Voting Rights Victory! Kansas voters have approved an amendment to their state constitution removing a provision that authorized the state legislature to deny the right to vote to anyone living with a mental illness. In fact, the amendment won 63 percent of the vote–a landslide victory. It may be the first time that such a constitutional restriction has been removed through a popular referendum. About 10 years ago, a similar referendum campaign in Maine failed, but that restriction later was found unconstitutional in a landmark federal court decision. The Kansas Mental Health Coalition, which includes NAMI Kansas, has declared that the outcome “sends a strong message that discrimination against people living with mental illness will not be tolerated.” The victory may encourage reform of laws in other states.				NPR Apology Accepted National Public Radio (NPR) president and CEO, Vivian Schiller, sent a formal letter of apology and talked by phone with NAMI Executive Director Mike Fitzpatrick following NAMI’s protest of a stigmatizing remark made during the recent controversy over the firing of long-time reporter Juan Williams. Schiller had said that Williams should have kept his feelings about Muslims between himself and his “psychiatrist or publicist–take your pick.” “I believe that consulting a mental health professional should be as unremarkable as seeing any other health care professional,” Schiller wrote in her letter. “I deeply regret my unintentionally hurtful remark. Please extend my heartfelt apology to those individuals and families who battle against the undeserved stigma of mental illness everyday.” In a NAMI Blog entry on Nov. 1, Fitzpatrick called the apology “sincere” and noted that it was one of “swiftest, most straightforward” responses NAMI has ever received to a stigma concern. “That’s consistent with the NPR that we have long known to be fair and compassionate in its reporting on mental illness,” Fitzpatrick wrote. On the stigma scale, NPR isn’t Burger King.

Glee: Not Funny Fox Television’s Emmy-winning musical comedy, Glee, stepped into stigma for its November 16 episode, entitled “The Substitute“, which mocked and trivialized bipolar disorder–and included imaginary violence as humor. Actress Gwyneth Paltrow, as substitute teacher Holly Holliday, played Mary Todd Lincoln- wife of Abraham Lincoln- as part of a history lesson. In the video link (above), the short scene begins at the 39:10 minute mark. The transcript and dialogue reads: Holly Holliday is standing at the front of class room dressed in 19th century clothing, lecturing to a high school class. Holly Holliday: Mary Todd Lincoln in the house! My husband was probably gay and I’m bipolar, which makes me yell things like [pointing to a teapot], ‘That teapot is spreading lies about me! Or, that can’t be my baby because I don’t love it! [throws imaginary baby over shoulder] Mr. Schuester knocks on the door and asks Holly Holliday to speak with him for a moment. Holly Holliday: Guys, practice your bipolar rants. See, history can be fun! Please contact Fox TV and the director of the episode to express disappointment with the scene. Mental illness is not a joke. Would the show have included a scene that played AIDS or cancer for laughs? Glee has enormous power to influence young people who constitute much of the show’s audience-and for whom suicide is the third-leading cause of death. Ask the show to make amends by producing episodes that deal with mental illness accurately and compassionately

Happy Holidays Best wishes to all our StigmaBusters for the upcoming holidays. Unfortunately, the Glee character “Holly Holliday” is no cause for comfort and joy.

 

Burger King: We Want It Our Way

Burger King has been running a new television commercial that shows “The King” on a rampage, chased by men in white coats, restrained and taken away, while being called “crazy” and “insane.” Many StigmaBusters have been horrified—calling it one of the worst they’ve ever seen.

It’s the kind of stereotype and language that perpetuates stigma, reinforcing perceptions that associate violence with mental illness. “Comic” stereotypes also trivialize medical illness. Please contact the company and tell them:

• Stop running the “Crazy King” commercial.
• Support the U.S. Surgeon General-stop stigma. Help educate people about mental illness and recovery. Don’t be a public health hazard.
• We want it our way at Burger King—stigma free.

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Sometimes stigma can be very overt as in the examples they list. Other times, it can be very subtle, coming in the form of jokes, concern, or curiosity. Either way, it can be very hurtful and harmful. There are many people doing positive things as far as mental health goes, though, such as Camp Wellness where I did an internship. Talking about both the negative and positive is helpful if we are to make progress in eliminating stigma (though individuals should be allowed to retain their medical privacy if they do not wish to speak upon the subject).

If you are interested in mental health issues, I’ve recently made a few additions to my blogroll, including The Carter Center. The Carter Center was founded by former First Lady Rosalynn Carter and has done much to bring changes in mental health awareness.

I also recently stumbled upon an interesting article from the BBC giving credibility to the fact that mental illnesses are indeed like other medical conditions: Eighty New Genes Linked to Schizophrenia.

As I said, I will post more on this subject as I get time, probably including some articles I’ve seen on racial disparity within mental health treatment, as well as some of the more positive thoughts and perspectives.