Shows like 13 Reasons why, which exist only to make the character’s suffering beautiful may often lead to people wanting to face similar problems. Problem solved. By telling people that mental illness is beautiful, we are teaching them not to seek help or look for treatment. Social media also plays a part in romanticising mental health. have all been addressed to … Romanticism of Mental Illness By: Estrella Rodriguez How I plan to Help What is it? Similarly, skipping breakfast is not anorexia nor is it ‘fun’ to starve, having a bad sleeping schedule is not insomnia. Especially on social media sites, like Tumblr and Instagram, some communities have developed a very problematic way of dealing with mental illness. Here’s the deal – mental illness is not ‘beautiful’ and it does not make you more attractive. The Romanticism of Mental illness | Mancunian Matters As a sufferer of mental illness myself the way mental illness is depicted on social media and by society is delusional and a fallacy. It implies that pain is pretty and completely disregards the struggles of people who actually suffer from any such illness. Anorexic models are not perfect. Cuts are not attractive. While social media provides a platform where one can easily talk about these matters at their convenience, it also creates a distorted image of mental health, making it appear to be idealistic. People who suffer from mental illnesses, however, find it harder to talk. No amount of quotes on Instagram or artsy photos on Tumblr will change the fact that mental illness is not an aesthetic to be achieved. Moreover, Van Gogh himself wrote in one of his, Lastly, this trend of romanticisation of mental illness had led to extreme glorification and encouragement of suicide and self-harm. A person could feel something is wrong, see themselves not enjoying the same thing as their peers, and decide to go to therapy. Did you recognize yourself in the warning signs? Interacting with someone struggling with a similar illness on a worldwide platform can be very encouraging. After the recent news of suicides of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain there has been a tremendous amount of discussion about mental illness, the stigmas attached to it and the need to address the struggles of people going through them. It can be a very isolating ordeal for them. Silver Linings Playbook, Garden State, and Benny & Joon show you that to cure your mental illness, you just need to find your one true love, and voila! How social media is making life-threatening mental illnesses look beautiful and artsy. Such comparisons completely reduce the seriousness of the illness. The new era of portraying mental illness as a beauty mark, or as an aesthetic it's here and is a direct threat towards those who tend to use social media excessively, especially the younger generation. Cuts are not attractive. Suicidal people are not ‘angels’, they are human beings who need help. Romanticism of mental illnesses. It’s tears, trauma and therapy. Suicide is seen as a graceful way out. This is often accompanied by a quote or a caption that scars are ‘alluring’ or ‘beautiful’. What if she brushes off the fact that I couldn’t get out of bed for a week, thinking that I’m trying too hard? A guide to the Open Electives on offer for fourth semester students of B.Tech at Manipal Institute of Technology. While understanding that one’s mental health may not be at its best due to the evergrowing awareness of it in the media, the romanticisation of such a situation is quite demeaning to it. Social media linked to rise in mental health disorders in teens, survey finds Young adults born after 1995 are experiencing more mental health issues. At times, it is portrayed as something which is ‘beautiful’ and ‘deep’. Negative effects included anxiety, depression, loneliness, poor sleep quality, poor mental health indicators, thoughts of self-harm and suicide, increased levels of psychological distress, cyber bullying, body image dissatisfaction, fear of missing out and decreased life satisfaction. It is an extremely isolating experience. People’s perception of mental illnesses has proved to be a wide-ranging spectrum. For example, “I slept at 5:00 AM, I’m such an insomniac!” When they mean, “I slept at 5:00 AM, but if need be, I can fix my sleep schedule.” Using mental illnesses as an explanation for your daily habits takes away the validity of those who have it. In media, whether it be through music, television, or social networking websites such as Tumblr, Twitter, or Instagram, mental disorders tend to be romanticized or even viewed as poetic. On this Republic Day, let us take a look at the fifteen powerful women who helped draft the Indian Constitution. Claiming to have them, without any proper checkup, is not something that will make us ‘cool’ or ‘popular’ in our social circles. You find pictures of girls with scars on their arms, or a flowery picture of a blade all over Instagram and Tumblr. Social Media is a good place to start changing the way we look at mental illness. To Kill a Mockingbird covers several themes that are often uncomfortable to encounter and explore, such as racism and loss of innocence. Depression isn’t cute to boys. Shows like Monk, FRIENDS, and The Big Bang Theory have characters suffering from OCD, but are portrayed as cute and lovable, instead of showing the actual burden it is. After all, it’s not easy to be creative in times when getting out of the bed seems like the hardest thing to do. Just like any other form of mental illness it requires proper treatment. And it is not funny when you make a meme about dying. It’s a daily battle which has taken many, and it is not beautiful. Tumbl r is where a lot of the romanticism of mental illness stems from. While in earlier times, the presence of mental health problems would be greeted by denial and hesitation, it is much more widely open to discussion and treatment than before. Every time we have a mass shooting, all the politicians and news personalities start throwing around "mental illness," implying that all these mass shootings are the handiwork of dangerous mentally ill people. Whether you’re someone struggling, a friend trying to understand, a teacher wondering how to introduce your lesson, a doctor trying to decide on a diagnosis or simply a campaigner trying to reduce stigma, it … Moreover, 55% of lesbian, gay, or bisexual adults have reported dating online. It affects every aspect of an individual’s life; it even affects the capacity to function productively and properly. Are ‘Fat’ People Unworthy Of Companionship? It might be time to find some balance in your social media life. Being incapable of having regular conversations due to anxiety is not ‘cute’ but rather an isolating experience. Just as the name suggests, it’s an illness which is real and affects a huge percentage of population on a daily basis. Mental Health Questionnaire: Using advice about quantitative methods and how to do a successful questionnaire, I created a short, quick answer based mental health questionnaire to try expand on the topic from the opinions of the students. Though, it might be a form of therapy for someone, it in no way enhances someone’s artistic talent or … Manto's writings portray women as strong characters who have their own agency and hence fight patriarchal structures. On social media websites, while giving example of someone like Vincent Van Gogh, who suffered from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, a link is drawn between mental illness and art. Social media use is often pointed at for having a negative impact on mental health. There is absolutely nothing desirable or artistic about depression. Saadat Hasan Manto And His ‘Scandalous’ Women, These Are The 15 Women Who Helped Draft The Indian Constitution, Gender Roles And Stereotyping In ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’, The Life And Times Of Dnyanjyoti Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule | #IndianWomenInHistory, The Media Needs To Stop Sympathising With Rapists | #GBVinMedia, Video: Inside The World Of Female Masturbation, When The Personal Is Political: Inequality Within Marriage. In fact, by refusing to acknowledge the problem, perhaps we are encouraging it. It comes to the point that teenagers start desiring mental illnesses, which often leads to the fake claims that they have it. Posts like these start justifying self-harm, rather than educating about the need to seek help. “I see that on lots of social media. What if he thinks that I’m self-harming because it’s a trend? The Cognizant Citizen: George Floyd- Do Black Lives Matter. It’s completely normal to seek help, whether or not you have a mental illness. We have added the trigger warning. the romanticism of mental illness The Romanticism of Mental illness . Second, adolescents frequently utilize social media and the internet to seek information about mental health. One study found that people who interact with former romantic partners on social media are more likely to experience anxiety or depression compared to those who do not. This involves associating any mental illness with everyday events or moods. On social media websites, while giving example of someone like Vincent Van Gogh, who suffered from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, a link is drawn between mental illness and art. It is hard to understand what mental illness is like unless you have experienced it yourself. This has been made possible due to the huge access to resources, and the uprise of the internet. A lot of problems arise when we romanticise mental health. We need to start a honest conversation about breaking stigmas around mental illness, but we also need to stop encouraging its romanticisation. In our society, mental illness has become “romantic,” “edgy,” and “trendy.” Because of mental illness’ stigma in our society today, what people actually know about it is very limited. Secondly, the trend of romanticisation has led to people encouraging others to self-harm or commit suicide. There is nothing artistic about self-inflicted cuts on your wrists. It comes to the point that teenagers start desiring mental illnesses, which often leads to the fake claims that they have it. New findings challenge the notion that there is a looming mental health crisis in the U.S. and that the crisis is being caused by technology. The idea is simple: people pledge on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Vimeo to listen to and support individuals struggling with mental illness. Acknowledgements . Social media is particularly awful in creating this distorted image of mental health that is sometimes appealing to people, making it an ‘aesthetic’. While social media provides a platform where one can easily talk about these matters at their convenience, it also creates a distorted image of mental health, making it appear to be idealistic. Though, it might be a form of therapy for someone, it in no way enhances someone’s artistic talent or skills. iii . Thank you for flagging this. Anxiety is not a glamorous thing to have. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. And although mental illness is stigmatized, the portrayal of it in film, tv shows, and social media is not. With remarkable finesse, Netflix's Sir captures the redundancy of societal constructs such as class barriers and issues of propriety. Romance Shouldn't Kill You I plan on going to CSU Long beach to pursue a career in film I am open about my mental illness and how it affects me personally To describe a mental illness in a way With… Secondly, teenagers, influenced by social media, desire having mental illness, which often leads to fake claims of having one. It is believed that having mental illness will aid them to be ‘beautiful’. Thus it provides a safe environment, making it easier for people to share their experiences. #WeAreManipal. If individuals begin to receive medical treatment for a mental illness that they don’t have, they may become dependent or addicted on those drugs. If this notion is kept hyped, it will start presenting itself as a valid choice or a possibility for people with depression. Tracey Walker. Findings. However, mental illness does not make one’s art great. First, social media appears to have potential to promote positive mental health. “Pain and mental illness are seen as beautiful and even encouraged.” McGarrell believes that users on social media websites, such as the blogging platform Tumblr, have taken to glorifying disorders such as anxiety, anorexia or other mental illnesses. As a sufferer of mental illness myself the way mental illness is depicted on social media and by society is delusional and a fallacy. The findings showed that social media has negative and positive effects on mental health. She relentlessly fought against the dominant caste system and worked towards the upliftment of the marginalized. However, now, this has gone too far. This trend may have started as a way to make people with any kind of mental illness feel inclusive and to reach out them. Odyssey. It is our responsibility to help them, provide them with treatment and not to present suicide as a viable option. The internet is a great place to discuss issues and notions regarding mental health. By Eric Whelan and Louise Hopper, DCU. Someone who suffers from anxiety does not view it as something that makes them ‘feel good’. Not just Tumblr,” he says. What’s not fine is reading up to three symptoms of ADHD and saying, “I can relate to this so I have ADHD.”, Romanticism of Mental Illnesses in the Media. In the end, pain doesn’t equate to pretty. Savitribai Phule, first female teacher of the first women’s school in India is a pioneer figure. It is a very painful physiological and well as physical experience that people go thorough everyday. But mental illness is not romantic or glamorous; it can be crippling and life altering. Firstly, it feeds to the misunderstanding ideas people have about mental health. Now, if just one person speaks up about their mental health, a huge number of people come forward about their own, inspired by what others are doing. Social media has turned mental illness into a trend that is glamorous, which shifts our focus from people who are actually suffering from any such illness, by invalidating their experiences. The Romanticism of Mental Health in Media Narratives. Why Are We Romanticising Mental Illness On Social Media? People end up believing that having a mental illness makes them unique or special. By John Schebece Staff Culture Critic. Podcast: Are We Talking About Our Sexual Health Enough? It comes to the point that teenagers start desiring mental illnesses, which often leads to the fake claims that they have it. In social media especially, romanticization of mental illness is becoming increasingly prominent, especially on platforms such as Tumblr. First, I’d like to thank my thesis chair, Dr. Sherry Holladay, for the inspiring guidance, invaluably constructive criticism, and friendly advice she gave so freely throughout this process. Written by Kaavya Azad for MTTN Featured image by Sara Dharmik for MTTN, media portrayal, mental health, mental illness. What romanticisation does is that it creates a glamorous and fancy portrayal of mental illness. But there's not a lot of established wisdom on how best to share such consequential stories. One of the biggest advantages of the internet and social media is that it can ensure anonymity. According to WHO, around 300 million people suffer from depression worldwide. Pain equates to pain. Depression is not feeling sad and lonely. Finally, there are benefits and challenges to using social media in this way. On social media, young people post about their mental health by adding "#OCD" or "#bipolar" to posts. And just like that, mental illness is ‘tragically beautiful’, and your pain suddenly is termed to be pretty. Anxiety actually causes pain, and panic attacks lead to self harm and hyper ventilation. They describe mental illness as ‘tragically beautiful’. Illnesses such as depression or anxiety have been overgeneralized and handled insensitively in posts and comments. Popular media, including social media, have romanticized a chosen few -safe - mental illnesses to glorify, while demonizing the rest of us. "Trendy" emotional distress on social media is part of many must-follow accounts across all platforms. While social media provides a platform where one can easily talk about these matters at their convenience, it also creates a distorted image of mental health, making it appear to be idealistic. A disturbing amount of blogs and tags encourage self-harm. Thirdly, it trivialises the gravity of mental illnesses. Firstly, rather than breaking the stigma around mental health, it feeds to the misunderstanding and misconstructed ideas people have about mental health. However, mental illness does not make one’s art great. There is nothing romantic about waking up in the hospital after an overdose. While this open online discussion can help foster a sense of community, there has also been a trend of treating mental illness like it’s something that should be sought-after. A person could feel something is wrong, see themselves not enjoying the same thing as their peers, and decide to go to therapy. Mental illnesses are now widely accepted in our society and it is no longer unusual or looked down upon for a person to seek help from a medical adviser or counselor. You find pictures of girls with scars on their arms, or a flowery picture of a blade all over, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), The #GBVinMedia Campaign: Media Reportage Of Gender-Based Violence, #IndiaAgainstCAA: Anti-CAA Content by FII, The Crowdsourced List Of Social Justice Collectives Across Indian Campuses | #CampusSJC, How To Write About Abortion: A Rights-Based Approach To Talking Abortion, Criminal Justice 2 Review: Motherhood, Masculinity And Media Trials, Bengali Soap Operas: Femininity, Feminism & The Tropes That We Now…, ‘Never Rarely Sometimes Always’ Review: A Delicate Exploration Of Agency &…, Video: Queer and Trans Representation In Our Films, Gendering Genius: How Our Inherent Bias Protects Problematic But ‘Brilliant’ Men, Women In STEM: In Conversation With Dr Manjari Jain, Portrayal Of Thirst: The Sexist Advertising Used By Beverage & Cold…, 9 Feminist Moments From 2020 That Shattered Stereotypes, Handy Lessons From Soorpanakha’s Story For Today’s Woman, Remembering Mahasweta Devi, The Social Activist On Her Birth Anniversary, A Feminist Reading Of Supporting Female Characters From Indian Epics, Kallumala Samaram: A Turning Point For Caste-Based Sartorial Politics In Modern…, Periyar & Maniammai’s Marriage – Though Irrelevant, Let’s Talk About It,…, Ban ‘Sex-Selective’ Surgeries: DCPCR Recommends The Delhi Government In A Historic…, Taking Up Space: Reclaiming Physical Realms As A Form Of Disabled…, Students Speak Up Against Deteriorating Mental Health In Virtual Schools, The Horrors Of Lockdown For The Fisher Folk: Starvation, Stranding, And…, When Work Comes Home: Pandemic Realities For Indian Women In Tech. 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