Social media also plays a part in romanticising mental health. Although art can be therapeutic and historically, there is a correlation between creativity and mental illness— Vincent Van Gogh, who had schizophrenia and bipolar disorder— it’s not the cause for someone’s talent. If this notion is kept hyped, it will start presenting itself as a valid choice or a possibility for people with depression. While social media provides a platform where one can easily talk about these matters at their convenience, it also creates a distorted image of mental health, making it appear to be idealistic. A guide to the Open Electives on offer for fourth semester students of B.Tech at Manipal Institute of Technology. A lot of problems arise when we romanticise mental health. Kutcher says the problem is in misinformation. Social media linked to rise in mental health disorders in teens, survey finds Young adults born after 1995 are experiencing more mental health issues. People end up believing that having a mental illness makes them unique or special. A significant contributing factor is people using mental illnesses as adjectives. Acknowledgements . Not just Tumblr,” he says. There is nothing romantic about waking up in the hospital after an overdose. Thank you for flagging this. have all been addressed to … Romanticism of mental illnesses on social media can also lead to a number of other problems such as drug dependency, self-harm, and body dysmorphia. After all, it’s not easy to be creative in times when getting out of the bed seems like the hardest thing to do. And it is not funny when you make a meme about dying. Lastly, this trend of romanticisation of mental illness had led to extreme glorification and encouragement of suicide and self-harm. It comes to the point that teenagers start desiring mental illnesses, which often leads to the fake claims that they have it. Aside from depression and addiction, eating disorders are glorified as well. In our society, mental illness has become “romantic,” “edgy,” and “trendy.” Because of mental illness’ stigma in our society today, what people actually know about it is very limited. The worst I find is blogging platform tumblr. If individuals begin to receive medical treatment for a mental illness that they don’t have, they may become dependent or addicted on those drugs. While the acceptance of such issues is a positive step in our society, it’s being taken to the other side of the spectrum— romanticisation. First, social media appears to have potential to promote positive mental health. Manto's writings portray women as strong characters who have their own agency and hence fight patriarchal structures. TV shows and movies present mental illness in a romanticised form. It is an extremely isolating experience. As a sufferer of mental illness myself the way mental illness is depicted on social media and by society is delusional and a fallacy. Another false notion related to this is that mental illness makes you creative. Pain equates to pain. It’s tears, trauma and therapy. Depression isn’t cute to boys. What romanticisation does is that it creates a glamorous and fancy portrayal of mental illness. Tracey Walker. It’s completely normal to seek help, whether or not you have a mental illness. Social Media and Mental Illness: How to Find Balance. This is very problematic for teenagers who actively suffer from mental illness, and are unable to receive treatment, as their illness becomes desensitised because “everybody has it.”. The findings showed that social media has negative and positive effects on mental health. To give you some perspective, here’s a 2013 statistic from Mirror Magazine : “ An alarming 34% admitted lying about having a mental illness in the past, according to online therapy service mentaline.com .” We need to start a honest conversation about breaking stigmas around mental illness, but we also need to stop encouraging its romanticisation. Video: Woman Farmer At Tikri Border Explains Why The Farm Bills…, Exceptional Women: The Erasure Of Women From Public And Private Memory, Hannah Gadsby’s ‘Nanette’ Is Feminist Rage Against Comedy, Taking Up Space: Reclaiming Physical Realms As A Form Of Disabled Dissent. Social Media is a good place to start changing the way we look at mental illness. In fact, by refusing to acknowledge the problem, perhaps we are encouraging it. The conversation about mental illness is incredibly limited which makes it that much easier for media to romanticize it. Problem solved. Though, it might be a form of therapy for someone, it in no way enhances someone’s artistic talent or skills. The Cognizant Citizen: George Floyd- Do Black Lives Matter. What if she brushes off the fact that I couldn’t get out of bed for a week, thinking that I’m trying too hard? The Great Indian Kitchen, starring Nimisha Sajayan and Suraj Venjaramoodu, is a scathing indictment of the patriarchal institution that marriage is in India, even in the 21st century (or perhaps all over the world?). It stands to reason that these images and posts might actually encourage self … Analysis: a new study has found that time spent on social media was a strong predictor of mental health during the pandemic . When we clasp to such images, we deny ourselves and others to see the illness and people’s suffering. #WeAreManipal. Being incapable of having regular conversations due to anxiety is not ‘cute’ but rather an isolating experience. The new era of portraying mental illness as a beauty mark, or as an aesthetic it's here and is a direct threat towards those who tend to use social media excessively, especially the younger generation. People on Instagram and Tumblr start posting triggering photos, accompanied by a caption saying that scars are beautiful. Every time we have a mass shooting, all the politicians and news personalities start throwing around "mental illness," implying that all these mass shootings are the handiwork of dangerous mentally ill people. Illnesses such as depression or anxiety have been overgeneralized and handled insensitively in posts and comments. And just like that, mental illness is ‘tragically beautiful’, and your pain suddenly is termed to be pretty. Cuts are not attractive. Featured Image Source: Crisis Prevention Institute, I think that you should put a trigger warning at the top of the page, as there are individuals who may be triggered by the images, including the graphic self harm pictures. Romanticism of mental illnesses. We, as a society, aren’t doing anything to discourage it. On this Republic Day, let us take a look at the fifteen powerful women who helped draft the Indian Constitution. It is believed that having mental illness will aid them to be ‘beautiful’. While in earlier times, the presence of mental health problems would be greeted by denial and hesitation, it is much more widely open to discussion and treatment than before. It’s a daily battle which has taken many, and it is not beautiful. Posts like these start justifying self-harm, rather than educating about the need to seek help. Nearly one-third of Americans overall and 48% of Americans ages 18-29 having dated online, according to the Pew Research Center. While understanding that one’s mental health may not be at its best due to the evergrowing awareness of it in the media, the romanticisation of such a situation is quite demeaning to it. No amount of quotes on Instagram or artsy photos on Tumblr will change the fact that mental illness is not an aesthetic to be achieved. Social media also plays a part in romanticising mental health. It comes to the point that teenagers start desiring mental illnesses, which often leads to the fake claims that they have it. Now, if just one person speaks up about their mental health, a huge number of people come forward about their own, inspired by what others are doing. Secondly, teenagers, influenced by social media, desire having mental illness, which often leads to fake claims of having one. It is not a ‘desirable’ thing to have in order for a person to be artistic. Social media is particularly awful in creating this distorted image of mental health that is sometimes appealing to people, making it an ‘aesthetic’. Suicide is seen as a graceful way out. After the recent news of suicides of Kate Spade and, Depression is not feeling sad and lonely. How social media is making life-threatening mental illnesses look beautiful and artsy. Whereas racial bias, gender bias, religious bias etc. After the recent news of suicides of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain there has been a tremendous amount of discussion about mental illness, the stigmas attached to it and the need to address the struggles of people going through them. Just like any other form of mental illness it requires proper treatment. Some individuals begin to believe that having a mental illness will make them unique or … Written by Kaavya Azad for MTTN Featured image by Sara Dharmik for MTTN, media portrayal, mental health, mental illness. It affects every aspect of an individual’s life; it even affects the capacity to function productively and properly. © FII Media Private Limited | All rights reserved. It affects people’s life and relationships drastically, just like any other illness. Shows like 13 Reasons why, which exist only to make the character’s suffering beautiful may often lead to people wanting to face similar problems. The pictures to the left are images you would be likely to see on any given day when scrolling through Tumblr. by the paper; Posted on 04/27/2017 04/23/2017; Don’t confuse discontentment and depression: they’re different. The mental health space can be difficult for many people to understand. While some people claim that mental illnesses do not exist, others possess the knowledge about them. Film Review: The Great Indian Kitchen – Serving Patriarchy, Piping Hot! Similarly, skipping breakfast is not anorexia nor is it ‘fun’ to starve, having a bad sleeping schedule is not insomnia. It requires proper aid and treatment. At times, it is portrayed as something which is ‘beautiful’ and ‘deep’. Social media has become a platform for young people to express themselves and connect with their peers, but it has also become a hub for romanticizing mental illness. Finally, there are benefits and challenges to using social media in this way. Romanticisation creates a glamorous portrayal of mental illness. It’s completely normal to seek help, whether or not you have a mental illness. Thirdly, it trivialises the gravity of mental illnesses. Secondly, the trend of romanticisation has led to people encouraging others to self-harm or commit suicide. One study found that people who interact with former romantic partners on social media are more likely to experience anxiety or depression compared to those who do not. It is an experience which makes people’s daily life painful. This trend portrays mental illness as ‘edgy’ and ‘cool’. July 12, 2019. Tumblr is an example of such a social media site that spreads romanticisation of mental illness, with bloggers promoting it. Currently Swoon Lifestyle Health ... retweeting, and sharing the posts. It implies that pain is pretty and completely disregards the struggles of people who actually suffer from any such illness. Findings. Anorexic models are not perfect. Kurt Cobain’s suicide note was even sold on a t-shirt. Cuts are not attractive. On social media, young people post about their mental health by adding "#OCD" or "#bipolar" to posts. This has been made possible due to the huge access to resources, and the uprise of the internet. Sadness isn’t beautiful. The idea is simple: people pledge on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Vimeo to listen to and support individuals struggling with mental illness. While social media provides a platform where one can easily talk about these matters at their convenience, it also creates a distorted image of mental health, making it appear to be idealistic. A person could feel something is wrong, see themselves not enjoying the same thing as their peers, and decide to go to therapy. Thus it provides a safe environment, making it easier for people to share their experiences. What’s not fine is reading up to three symptoms of ADHD and saying, “I can relate to this so I have ADHD.”, Romanticism of Mental Illnesses in the Media. Though, it might be a form of therapy for someone, it in no way enhances someone’s artistic talent or skills. Though, it might be a form of therapy for someone, it in no way enhances someone’s artistic talent or … Silver Linings Playbook, Garden State, and Benny & Joon show you that to cure your mental illness, you just need to find your one true love, and voila! Netflix’s Sir: The Indian Audience’s Fascination With The Rich-Man-Loves-Poor-Girl Trope. According to WHO, around, However, mental illness does not make one’s art great. Did you recognize yourself in the warning signs? Just as the name suggests, it’s an illness which is real and affects a huge percentage of population on a daily basis. In particular, tumblr has allowed teenagers and young adults to share and create unfiltered posts about mental illness. Moreover, Van Gogh himself wrote in one of his last letters, “Oh, if I could have worked without this accursed disease – what things I might have done.” Thus, mental illness does not enhance anyone’s creativity. A person could feel something is wrong, see themselves not enjoying the same thing as their peers, and decide to go to therapy. Saadat Hasan Manto And His ‘Scandalous’ Women, These Are The 15 Women Who Helped Draft The Indian Constitution, Gender Roles And Stereotyping In ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’, The Life And Times Of Dnyanjyoti Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule | #IndianWomenInHistory, The Media Needs To Stop Sympathising With Rapists | #GBVinMedia, Video: Inside The World Of Female Masturbation, When The Personal Is Political: Inequality Within Marriage. But mental illness is not romantic or glamorous; it can be crippling and life altering. It becomes just a ‘quirky’ feature and is reduced to mere traits a person has. It is a powerful stage to break stereotypes around mental illness. In today's video, I discuss The Rise of Romanticising Mental Illnesses in both social and mainstream media and why it needs to be stopped. ‘Pretty girls don’t eat’ is just one of the many taglines you will find, and suicide is made to seem like a graceful way out. Negative effects included anxiety, depression, loneliness, poor sleep quality, poor mental health indicators, thoughts of self-harm and suicide, increased levels of psychological distress, cyber bullying, body image dissatisfaction, fear of missing out and decreased life satisfaction. the romanticism of mental illness The Romanticism of Mental illness . Prerna is a history undergrad student who spends most of her time reading, dancing and arguing why everyone should be a feminist. Someone who suffers from anxiety does not view it as something that makes them ‘feel good’. According to WHO, around 300 million people suffer from depression worldwide. Tumbl r is where a lot of the romanticism of mental illness stems from. Being incapable of having normal conversations with strangers due to anxiety is not a ‘quirky’ thing. And as popular presentations increase, so does superficial familiarity and a sense that severe mental illness … “Pain and mental illness are seen as beautiful and even encouraged.” McGarrell believes that users on social media websites, such as the blogging platform Tumblr, have taken to glorifying disorders such as anxiety, anorexia or other mental illnesses. Moreover, Van Gogh himself wrote in one of his, Lastly, this trend of romanticisation of mental illness had led to extreme glorification and encouragement of suicide and self-harm. Popular media, including social media, have romanticized a chosen few -safe - mental illnesses to glorify, while demonizing the rest of us. As a society we need to stop romanticising mental illness, as it distorts the actual issue and in many cases promotes and triggers trauma. exposure, social media’s effects on romantic relationships, and social media’s effects on platonic relationships. Different problems arise due to romanticisation. And although mental illness is stigmatized, the portrayal of it in film, tv shows, and social media is not. It’s losing all of one’s motivation, one’s friends and family, and messing up one’s education. Mental Health Questionnaire: Using advice about quantitative methods and how to do a successful questionnaire, I created a short, quick answer based mental health questionnaire to try expand on the topic from the opinions of the students. Podcast: Are We Talking About Our Sexual Health Enough? Tracey Walker. Suicidal people are not ‘angels’, they are human beings who need help. On social media websites, while giving example of someone like Vincent Van Gogh, who suffered from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, a link is drawn between mental illness and art. What if he thinks that I’m self-harming because it’s a trend? With… This trend may have started as a way to make people with any kind of mental illness feel inclusive and to reach out them. It’s feeling heavy, to the extent, one can’t get out of bed. People who suffer from mental illnesses, however, find it harder to talk. But there's not a lot of established wisdom on how best to share such consequential stories. It comes to the point that teenagers start desiring mental illnesses, which often leads to the fake claims that they have it. With remarkable finesse, Netflix's Sir captures the redundancy of societal constructs such as class barriers and issues of propriety. Romanticism of Mental Illness By: Estrella Rodriguez How I plan to Help What is it? “I see that on lots of social media. Mental illnesses are now widely accepted in our society and it is no longer unusual or looked down upon for a person to seek help from a medical adviser or counselor. Tumblr, a social media site that allows users to blog and express themselves, often fetishizes mental illness. The internet is a great place to discuss issues and notions regarding mental health. 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