Mental Health: Why People with Illness Matter
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The Rising Tide of Stigma: Mental Illness and Public Perception
The Slender Man Case and its Aftermath
Eleven years ago, at just 12 years old, Morgan Geiser stabbed a classmate under what she believed was the order of the internet creation ‘Slender Man.’ The survivor experienced near-fatal injuries. That same year, Morgan received her own diagnosis: Child Onset Schizophrenia.
Her journey has been public, and recently, her running away from a group home sparked widespread panic. The question arose: would she re-offend? Was society safe?
A Disturbing Trend in Public Discourse
as the story unfolded, and I read the online comments, I was struck by the viciousness of the remarks. Many expressed not just opinions about Morgan’s fate, but about how society shoudl treat people living with serious mental illness in general. The sentiment was often harsh, with calls for a return to institutionalization and permanent confinement.
This isn’t an isolated incident. Just a few months prior, a news host suggested “involuntary lethal injection, or something” as a solution for homeless individuals with serious mental illness – a chilling proposition.
The Reality: Violence and Mental Illness
The reality is starkly different from the public perception. only a very small percentage of people living with mental illness enact violence. The link between mental health conditions and dangerousness is not well-established. Yet, the stigma persists and appears to be growing, with an increasing number of people viewing those with mental illness with contempt.
This rising stigma is particularly concerning for those of us who live openly with mental health conditions. The fear of being judged, ostracized, or seen as inherently hazardous is palpable.
Would my diagnosis appear like scarlet letters on my back? Do thes commenters believe that I and people I love-who live with mental health conditions-should not be allowed access to the world, that we must be segregated so as not to contaminate the rest of society?
Living with a mental illness can be rough, but our conditions aren’t contagious.
Understanding the Core Issues
The current climate reveals a dangerous misunderstanding of mental illness. Several factors contribute to this:
- Media Representation: Sensationalized news coverage often focuses on rare instances of violence committed by individuals with mental illness, reinforcing negative stereotypes.
- Lack of education: Insufficient public education about mental health leads to fear and misinformation.
- Historical Context: The legacy of past abuses within mental health institutions contributes to distrust and negative associations.
- Social Media Echo Chambers: Online platforms can amplify extreme views and create echo chambers where stigmatizing beliefs are reinforced.
Self-Care, Boundaries, and Psychosis
Self-Care, Boundaries and