Lehigh County Health & Medicine Fall 2021 - 10

FEATURE
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values of a production are maximized, a straightforward take on
successfully controlling mental health illnesses would likely be dull
and drab. Instead, a movie trope has flourished that those with
mental health illnesses are simply bound to commit atrocious acts
due to inadequate or nonexistent care, even though in real life an
enormous proportion of psychiatric conditions are successfully
managed.
The lasting nature of this generalization likely leads to more
interesting avenues for storytelling. In The Visit (2015), two
institutionalized patients manage to escape a psychiatric facility
and murder an elderly couple. Those patients then assume their
victims' identities when the couple's estranged grandchildren visit.
This scenario provides the thrills a horror film needs. But it could
also unintentionally implant some doubts regarding the basic safety
of psychiatric facilities and the quality of care provided. Mental
health funding can be lacking, and treatment may sometimes be
unsuccessful. However, films such as this could easily lead to the
mistaken thought that mental health illnesses are rarely treatable,
and those who suffer from them should be locked away indefinitely.
Despite these types of creative liberties, it is evident that cinema
and other media depictions of mental illness have come a long
way since the basic themes that an individual is either sane and
functional, or insane and a detriment to society. However, to this
day there are still numerous flaws present. So, what should we do
when navigating those pitfalls?
The answer, of course, isn't to demand widespread changes in
movies, television, and social media. What we can easily do instead
is approach any media representation of mental illness with
acceptance and empathy, but also a critical eye. We can still accept
the character as is, without ruining our enjoyment of a carefully
detailed plot arc. We can still feel for a character's mistakes, while
enjoying the drama that is sure to ensue. However, when it comes
to improving our objective understanding of mental health and all
it entails, we should avoid pop culture. Instead, the most reliable
resources we have are the unbiased scientific research that continuously
propels forward mental health care, and the care providers
of all levels who use that research to understand, recognize, and
manage mental health illnesses.
Pop culture is exceptional entertainment. But let's be a little
careful before we believe every bit of it, too.
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10 Lehigh County Health & Medicine | FALL 2021
http://www.DrJohnGKuna.com http://www.hoffpubs.com
Lehigh County Health & Medicine Fall 2021

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