Mental Illness: True Or False Interpretation?

Mental Illness is defined as a condition which causes serious disorder in a person’s behavior and thinking (Mental Illness). Although this is the dictionary definition, there are many other descriptions that are associated with mental illness. For example, the media’s portrayal of mental illness produces a whole different interpretation. Someone with a mental illness diagnosis may produce a whole different explanation than what has been previously heard. Many times people use terms associated with mental illness to describe themselves or others that son’t actually have a diagnosis. Because there are so many different meanings, the actual meaning can often be skewed. Until our society and world discard the false definitions of mental illness, it will be unable to move forward in understanding those with diagnosis's better.
We can look to media to give us a good explanation. Many crime television shows or horror movies use a character with a mental illness to play the “bad guy” or “criminal”. When audience members encounter such inaccurate and negative information in television shows and movies, the experience may reinforce bias against people with mental illness and/or create new negative associations concerning what it means to live with a mental illness (Parrot and Parrot). Because of this bias, it creates a false interpretation in one’s mind. When many people think of mental illness, they now think of the psychosis side of mental illness, when most of mental illness is actually the neurosis part. This false meaning creates a stigma in our society. Those with a diagnosis now have to choose whether or not to disclose their condition to their loved ones. Depending on the circumstances, disclosure may lead to rejection or social support; nondisclosure or secrecy on the other hand may protect from discrimination, but is associated with negative long-term outcomes and the threat of discovery can be a constant stressor