Introduction : Eliminating Antipathy
Considering the framework of psychological health conversations, stigmatization constitutes a powerful barrier to advancement. Although increased knowledge, cultural beliefs and preconceived notions persist that obscure talks about psychological disorders and mortality. The astonishing incidence of emotional wellness concerns around the nation, exacerbated by extremely high numbers of suicides, underlines the importance of removing this perception. Whilst many elements play a role in prejudice, the role of correspondents must be emphasized. The media’s depiction of mental diseases may not only stigmatize them, but it can also help to reduce false attitudes. It can also increase the risk of developing certain mental diseases. On the other side, certain types of media, particularly films, can be utilized to better understand psychiatric diseases and associated treatment options (Kaur & Kaur, 2019).
On one hand, for a culture wherein isolation reinforces misery and guilt embedded within the individual hinders growth, the necessity of empowering media in campaigning about psychological well-being needs to be preached. Due to this, wherever condemnation creeps in the shadowy corners and insight is therefore faint. However on the other hand, through leveraging the additional impact caused by broadcasting networks, organizations can shift memoirs, elevate opinions, and promote an increasingly welcoming yet empathetic nation for all of humanity, regardless of their psychological conditions. However, tucked beneath this pattern of affliction are unspoken tales of perseverance and insurrection – storylines that contradict conventional and doubt the current availability paradigm.
Association with the Mantle of Stigma
Subsequently it doesn’t really suffice enough to merely define stigma; proficiency is likewise essential unfolding its devious characteristics, which can be found in daily interactions including social systems. It permeates community structures, deepening inequality and exclusion of previously disadvantaged people. While dissecting such myths, we may discover the havoc they cause to people, their loved ones, and their surrounding neighborhoods. Stereotyping purely excludes people aside from it additionally impairs solidarity in society, hampering collaborative attempts to tackle psychological disorders.
Stigma is not only accountable for suppressing emotions and bottling them up which further leads to extended versions of pain such as mental disorders. Additionally, it also leads to discrimination which delves deeper into segregating various communities from one another. The reason why persistent discrimination overlaps across several aspects is social rejection, among them ethnic background, sexual orientation, gender identity, and financial standing, compounding a detrimental impact felt among underprivileged areas. As an outcome, people who face many types of bias bear an overabundance of the harmful effect of prejudices, intensifying their status quo. Eliminating stereotypes entails a holistic strategy that respects the intricate relationship of the hierarchy and societal organizations. Preventing judgment calls for the elimination of an organized gap and the advancement of multicultural settings in which everybody can experience acknowledgement and appreciation. Awareness-raising and outreach efforts are critical for countering preconceptions and developing sentimentality, yet ought to be bolstered by certain statutory modifications along with regulatory modifications for successful a long term transformation.
Interconnection between Media and Emotions
The press determines our ability to interpret and interact with emotions. Individuals become privy to many representations of mental health conditions via television, film productions, and headlines, each of which may confirm misconceptions or confront social judgments. In an analogous vein the press’s reporting influences society’s views of psychological well-being, frequently bending what we know by dramatization while participating in narrative tactics. Indian films typically touch on mental wellness difficulties providing realistic stories of individuals dealing with varied struggles.
In one instance in the movie “Dear Zindagi” (2016), the main character, actress Alia Bhatt, pursues counseling to deal with her psychological issues and prior trauma, triggering discussions regarding cognitive wellness and discovering oneself. People suffering from mental illnesses have always been stigmatized by society and as Sharukh Khan mentions in this movie – “still logg ye samjhate hai, ki dimag ki problem hona bahut sharam ki baat hai.. As if dimag hamari body ka hissa nahi hai.” This very perspective has never made it possible for mental health to reach the discussion table (Rathore & Maheshwari, 2018).
A thin line between the media deliverables can be observed through two ways : distorted media which is susceptible to dread and misinterpretation, whereas detailed and thorough media stimulates compassion to comprehend in the right manner. An example for the same could be, based on real-life accounts posted on networks like Facebook and Instagram to specific psychological forums on sites such as Reddit, online communication has emerged as a critical tool to boost consciousness, alleviating solitude, and forging relationships between those who endured the trauma.Conversely, the internet brings both benefits and challenges. Quick diffusion of inaccurate data and the plethora of impairing subjects can deteriorate pre-existing misconceptions and sustain negative myths. Furthermore, the controlled structure of internet news postings can lead to unjust comparisons together with sensations of inferiority, undermining an individual’s emotional question. Meanwhile, the popular portrayal of self-harm require being addressed carefully with delicacy and prudence, without exaggeration , which could accidentally lead to a rise in suicidal thoughts.
Conclusions: Ways to Use the Media Positively to Combat Mental Health Stigma
While the discussion surrounding how the press affects continues, residents of the nation focus on the chaos produced by the rapid enactment of lockdown restrictions during the shift from a global epidemic to a catastrophe. For example, amid the COVID-19 crisis, Indian media platforms played a significant part in providing vital data concerning emotional assistance programs and good coping tactics. Yet, besides to the above praiseworthy attempts, there are also cases of politicized broadcasting and the application of dismissing linguistics, which has contributed to increased degrees of dread and worry among the population.
Various other portals and institutions, such as the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS), All India Institute of Medical Sciences, and the Indian Psychiatric Society, have taken on independent responsibilities to promote and manage mental health issues during the COVID-19 pandemic in the form of online services and telemedicine services (Roy et al., 2020).
Moreover, community-based groups such as Deepika Padukone’s Live Love Laugh Foundation are helping to de-stigmatize psychiatric disorders and promote wellness by means of education and promotional drives. Plus, programs like PM Modi’s “Mann Ki Baat” implement laid out forums for substantive conversations regarding psychological problems and the value of obtaining guidance. Such initiatives generate a ray of hope and resilience in the society, reminding us all that we are not alone in this. Lastly, combating suicide is a joint responsibilities which necessitates coordination between journalists, health care representatives, legislators, and the general public. Therefore there is an imperative to lay out complete, socially acceptable evidence-based interventions that function on numerous levels and employ a variety of stigma-reduction tactics with multiple target groups (Kaur et al., 2020). Collectively, we may strive to establish an era whereby each human being matters particularly; nobody suffers lonely in all of their issues.
Shared by: Ms. Aamirah Makkar and Dr. Garima Rajan
Authors Bio: Ms. Aamirah Makkar is an Undergraduate Psychology Major student at FLAME University, Pune and Dr. Garima Rajan is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at FLAME University, Pune, India.
