Shizophrenia In The Media Essay

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Various studies and research has shown that most people gain knowledge about mental illnesses from mass media. Through news reportings, television shows, movies, and other mediums, there is a strong misrepresentation of those with schizophrenia in the United States; they are often portrayed as extremely violent, incompetent, and dangerous. The false portrayals of schizophrenia in media leads to assumptions and ignorance. Thus, there should be more communication between professionals and the media to reduce the highly negative stigma surrounding schizophrenia.
In 1997, a study conducted by The National Mental Health Association found that people mostly get their information about mental illnesses from mass media. Smith cited these results as …show more content…

Starring the popular Jim Carrey, Me, Myself, and Irene is a comedy that gained the attention of many and attempted to make light of the serious illness that affects millions of people. Hank is a violent character who indeed portrays symptoms of split personality such as unpredictable mood changes, however these are not symptoms of schizophrenia which is used as a diagnosis in the film. In one scene, his bosses remind him of his illness. “Doctors have diagnosed you with having a split personality,” says one officer. “A schizo,” says the other immediately after. This scene is representative of the illusion that the media creates regarding mental illnesses. Split personality is not the same as schizophrenia. However, the movie interchangeably uses the two illnesses throughout the film. Later, when Charlie is taking medication for his illness, a co-worker asked what it was for. He responds with, “advanced delusionary schizophrenia with involuntary narcissistic rage.” Not only is this an over exaggerated diagnosis, the use of both split personality and schizophrenia throughout the film portrays that filmmakers are uneducated. Me, Myself, and Irene easily allows for viewers to gain a misrepresentation of schizophrenia which leads to the increased negative

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