Whether it be through a social media platform, a movie/TV show, or maybe even a book, we’ve all been exposed to the controversial issue of mental illness to some extent. With more light being shed upon it, awareness about mental health, in general, has tremendously soared in recent years, making its way into the minds of hundreds of millions across the world. Undoubtedly, the media’s increased openness to mental health has had benefits; raising awareness about a topic once ignored by society is one of the largest positive impacts. Unfortunately, the controversy and ongoing unclarity regarding what mental illness is, has resulted in its incorrect perception in the eyes of developing minds globally. A substantial amount of media portrays mental illness in an ignorant, clichéd manner, pushing stereotypes about them in immensely harmful ways.
Rapidly exacerbating misinformation regarding mental conditions such as eating disorders, bipolar disorders, borderline personalities, and many more, have influenced young minds to go so far as to diagnose themselves and even those around them with mental illnesses and conditions that they do not have. Mental disorder terms such as ‘psychopath’, ‘sociopath’, ‘narcissist’, and even ‘OCD’ get thrown around ignorantly and problematically, undermining the actual personality disorder they are associated with and meant for. Social media has undeniably been one of the biggest, if not the largest, contributing factors to mental illness sensationalism. A plethora of content downplays or minimizes the severity of concepts such as depression, suicide, and anxiety. This creates a false impression and perception of emotions and mental health in young, developing minds still figuring out who they are. As someone regularly active on social media, particularly Instagram and TikTok, the amount of content I have come across that has joked about suicide and mental disorders is truly petrifying. One of the largest issues in the modern world is that we believe just about anything we see or hear, especially online. Social media, particularly TikTok, is seen by a magnitude of teenagers as an ideal source of information, making it detrimental to teenagers’ and young adults’ perception of themselves and the world. Social media has made our generation unique because we feel a strong sense of community with one another. But so much so to the point where we start may start dramatizing and exaggerating normal experiences to feel like we share the same thoughts and experiences as others. In our generation, mental illnesses have been normalized as a common experience by those who truly experience it, those who see it as glamorized, and those who have misdiagnosed themselves as a result of misinformation.
Ironically, increased awareness about these issues has wrongfully portrayed them in such a way that those who have them are undermined and not taken seriously enough to be given the help that they need and deserve. Those who truly suffer from these mental illnesses refrain from speaking out, as their struggles are seen as part of the trend, and are not taken seriously. The colossal amount of uncertainty and skepticism regarding what mental illness actually is has caused a monumental amount of people, especially teens and young adults, to misunderstand their emotions, as well as question who they are to saddening extents. Put simply, the glorification of mental illness, especially over media and on the internet, has diminished what it truly is. Raising awareness about its severity and true nature is immensely important for our generation, not only to better understand ourselves and our emotions but also to end the undermining of those who truly need help.
