Sorry guys, I know I get pretty passionate about the topic of stigma but tonight I had to vent.I feel like I am fighting a loosing battle sometimes. While I was on perezhilton.com, I felt the need to comment on yet another sensationalized and unfortunate story about mental illness and violence. It got a little heated on my end but I wanted to remind people that we need to raise awareness more than ever. Please go to this link and read all of the comments (there are three pages of comments) made in reference to a news story about a Texas woman accused of killing infant son, then eating child's brain. Then I want you to read my comments (77, 86, 91, 98, 109, 112, 115, 132, 187, 208, 210, 221, 222, 229). Comments made by AmuseMe are the only ones that seem to coincide with my views. Sad. This was my favorite (sarcasm) quote: WELCOME TO AMERICA were crazy people run free!!!!!!!!!!" I would like to take the time to thank the people who will be sharing their stories in my documentary. The point of my film is to chip away at this intense stigma. If anyone is interested in sharing their story of hope, please contact me:) I would love to hear your thoughts.
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I understand how you feel about this issue but trying to educate people on a site like perezhilton.com is waste of time and energy. It can become very consuming for yourself, saying this by my own experience...
ReplyDeleteFighting against the mental illness stigma is mostly very frustrating. I find comfort in watching something like these British anti-stigma videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCRDIeFWhIo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo2ie5eJ0ag&feature=fvw
Thank you for your comment but I am fighting stigma on a much larger scale. I am a creative director and artist. With my skills I am working on a anti-stigma documentary about mental illness. This film will be shown to colleges across the nation. I refuse to think that fighting stigma is a waste of time. If Martin Luther King or Susan B. Anthony had that attitude, we may have never seen change. Also...by bringing AIDS education in the classroom, we dispelled many myths. This resulted in a compassionate attitude towards the illness. Now, we raise billions of dollars in research. The thread on perezhilton was a test to see how much ignorance is out there. He is an example of propaganda in the media. Just a slice of a bigger picture. This blog is simply a platform to discuss real life stigma. Thank you for your concern, but I will never give up, ever.
ReplyDeleteAC,
ReplyDeleteMartin Luther King is my all-time favorite role model. I think he was the greatest. He told everyone "I may not get there with you" and he didn't. He risked his life for what he believed in. I'm willing to risk my clout as a professional to champion the rights of everyone living with MIs to live a life of dignity and one of their own choosing.
Chris
It seems to me that I didn't manage to express myself in a right way. I did not mean you should give up or that fighting stigma would be a waste of time. I've been living with mental illness for several years, been discriminated against because of my illness and fight the stigma as well.
ReplyDeleteEver since I found your blog I've been thinking that your brother is very fortunate to have a sister like you. I admire your compassion and work but at the same time I can't help thinking that you contribute to the stigma as well by showing people with mental illness mainly as tragic, suffering and pitiful. Have you ever heard of Mad Pride? It's about people who embrace their madness and refuse to see it as a brain disorder. (To make it clear: I don't embrace mine nor do I call myself mad.)
Stigma is about lack of respect for the rights of people with mental illness - or who have been labelled as having one. There are many ways to educate people but the best ones are those that respect our rights to talk for ourselves on our own terms. Can you do it?
I understand your point of view but you have to realize that I am one person who has a unique point of view. I am not telling others how to fight stigma, rather, I am trying to educate the public based on my own experiences. I do not mean to show others as pitiful. Are you basing this on my blog posts? HAve you listened to my art exhibit? On my website, I show others the reality of what I have seen and what I know is possible. My brother has a very severe form of this illness and as much as there is hope, he will have a very rough road. The whole point of my exhibit is to show how much someone must overcome in order to achieve recovery. I do this because society continues to view mental illness as black and white. I am confused as to why you don't think I am standing up for equality. If you have viewed my posters (on my website) you will see how I put to rest the many misconceptions and force others to see the HUMAN BEING behind these illnesses. Again, please view my work on my website: www.gaining-insight.com I can't help but wonder why you misinterpreted my intent. This is an illness plain and simple. The public has to understand ALL aspects of the illness, whether it be psychosis, hospitalizations, or recovery. My documentary will show real people who have reached recovery. I amplify their progress and strength. Again, I am doing the best that I can and I appreciate your point of view.
ReplyDelete