Australian media portrayal of mental illness and people with mental illness

Multifaceted Media Representations of Mental Illness in Australia

In the 21st century, the age of the digital and social media revolutions, as well as the age that demands information, media, and technological literacy from the average person, it is becoming common and respected knowledge that all forms of media have the power to influence behavior and attitudes. Media is a form of communication, entertainment, and education. While most media is not generally considered as contributing to normative/institutional education, media educates viewers nonetheless. Media educates viewers as to how to participate in various cultures by practicing similar beliefs, rituals, behaviors, attitudes, and preferences and more. Media teaches culture, whatever the culture may be. It is a common experience of the human condition to feel pressure to conform at various stages of life. The paper analyzes and reflects upon the messages the media sends viewers regarding attitudes of people with mental illnesses.

Multifaceted Media Representations of Mental Illness in Australia

Humans experience varieties of social pressures to demonstrate loyalty or belonging to a group. As those of us who have survived childhood and adolescence can attest to, the character traits that distinguish us and make us unique, are often the very traits we are ridiculed for by our peers. Any person exhibiting characteristic that is perceived by a group as abnormal is shunned and/or mocked. Such a trait is that of a mental illness. How the Australian media represents persons with mental illnesses as well as the reactions of those persons' communities or peers affects and teaches viewers about how to perceive people with mental illness. The Australian media has the power to educate viewers with either bias or sensitivity regarding people who have mental illnesses. The paper demonstrates how media representations of mental illness in Australia are not uniform in their messages about mental illness, leaving the ultimate decision of perception to the viewer.

One of the most popular and long-running shows in Australian television history is the show "Neighbours." A character named Samantha appeared in the narrative in 2008. Samantha is a person with bipolar disorder, a very challenging mental illness. "Neighbours" is a show that prides itself on creating characters and storylines wherein people work their problems out through peaceful conflict resolution. The characters often confront difficult, yet realistic situations with honesty, awareness, and a desire to get along with others harmoniously. Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that has become more familiar to general populations around the world over the past few decades. This piece of popular media is an example of a helpful tool or teaching aid regarding mental illness and especially bipolar disorder. Hocking writes:

The media are essential players in any movement for change, as they have an important role in determining public attitudes to mental illness. Myths and misconceptions…are continually reinforced by stereotypical and often destructive media images…Programs are now in place to encourage the media to report mental illnesses…responsibly. In Australia, the Federal Government has taken a lead through its Mindframe National Media Strategy, which has supported several positive initiatives, including a media kit on responsible reporting for journalists, "ResponseAbility" education resources for journalism students, and expansion of the SANE Stigma-Watch program." (Hocking, 2003,-Page S47)

Thus, at the governmental level, administrators and legislators acknowledge the impact media representations have upon viewer's conceptions of mental illness. In an effort to respect those living with mental illness, as well as in an effort to be more culturally responsible, initiatives such as those listed above exist primarily to promote positive and more diversified representations of people with mental illness. There is an effort being made to construct media with the intention to inform, educate, and entertain. In the highly globalized world of the 21st century, people must prepare to deepen and/or widen their concepts of "different background." Backgrounds do not simply refer to ethnicity or class; background refers to mental health status, physical ability, and many other traits that cannot be seen, only experienced.

"Neighbours" is just one example that breaks the long-standing trend to represent people with mental illnesses as dangerous, violent, unpredictable/unstable, and kind of inhuman. Stout et al. comment that

Mental illness is one of the most stigmatized conditions in our society (Tringo 1970; Albrechet al. 1982; Corrigan and Penn 1999). People with mental illness experience all of the key features of the stigma process: they are officially tagged and labeled, set apart, connected to undesirable characteristics, and broadly discriminated against as a result (Link et al. 1989; Corrigan and Penn 1999; Link and Phelan 1999). (Stout et al., 2003,-Page 543)

Examples in the media often portray people with mental illness as so out of control that they lose touch with their consciences and ethics, committing heinous acts that they might not be held accountable for because of their mental illness. Mental illness is also portrayed as an excuse for alleged criminals to receive reduced or modified sentences. Therefore, the media portrays mental illness as an excuse or an escape, or an evasion of personal responsibility.