Mental health stereotypes in the movies crueler than ever, new report claims
claims
17 August 2009
A century of negative movie stereotypes of mental illness
Characters with mental health problems are being depicted as more
demonic and crueler than at any time in movie history, according to a
new report for Time to Change [1], the anti-stigma mental health
campaign, out today. The report claims that depictions haven't moved
on from the silent era, revealing that characters with a mental
illness are either evil or simple, with nothing in between.
The report, Screening Madness, written by psychiatrist and film expert
Dr Peter Byrne [2], reveals that film depictions of people with
experience of mental health problems have become more damaging.
"Mental health stereotypes have not changed over a century of cinema.
If anything, the comedy is crueler and the deranged psycho killer even
more demonic," Dr Byrne reveals in the report.
The key finding from the report shows that the public gets its
understanding of mental illness from movies, more than from any other
type of media. A YouGov survey commissioned for the report found that
almost 50 per cent [3] (49 per cent) of the public have seen people
with a mental illness acting violently in films. The survey also found
that almost half of people polled [4] (44 per cent) believe that
people with a mental illness will act violently.
Citing Batman – the Dark Knight as a low point in depicting mental
illness, with the violence and humour based almost entirely on a
misunderstanding of schizophrenia, Dr Byrne says: "Batman describes
the Joker as a schizophrenic clown, and when the film's second hero
Harvey Dent becomes "Two-Face" and embraces evil, the familiar
stereotype of schizophrenia is activated."
Dr Byrne continues: "This is omnipresent in cinema misrepresentations…
the psycho killer is immortal and sadistic, motivated by madness… in
almost all psychosis films, that character will kill," says Dr Byrne.
The report also shows that while the movie industry embraces its
responsibility on depicting homosexuality and racism accurately,
depictions of mental illness continue to be based on prejudice. One
Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest was named as the film most remembered for
depicting someone with a mental illness acting strangely or violently,
despite it being released almost 35 years ago showing that the
influence of movie stereotypes on attitudes can last a generation.
While Jim Carrey's Me, Myself and Irene was released in 2000, and
"represented a new low at laughing at people with severe mental
illness", Dr Byrne says.
There are some exceptions. Daniel Craig's portrayal in Some Voices and
Russell Crowe's A Beautiful Mind are more realistic portrayals of
schizophrenia, says Dr Bryne.
Sue Baker, Director for Time to Change said: "This report highlights
that movies are the main source of information that reinforces
negative stereotypes of mental illness above and beyond any other form
of media. We need to make it clear to directors and producers that
they can still break box office records without wrecking lives."
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