In the Poorest of All Taste: In Defense of Those with Mental Illness
As many people may know, I am a passionate advocate for those individuals suffering from mental illness which effects approximately 2 million or more people in our country. Individuals who are affected with biopolar disorder, schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, or major depression do not find it amusing when they must be commited into institituions against their will and have to be put into a straight jacket.
The July 25th issue of the New York magazine shows a picture of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes in straight jackets :http:
newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/news/culture/features/12264/
index. html
The words 'crazy', 'breakdown', 'nutcase, are all condesending conclusions and not really funny especially to anyone who has had to deal with mental illness or a mentally ill realtive. As amusing and attention grabbing as these descriptive labels may be, they stigmitize those who suffer from serious mental illness and make it appear as if their condition is something to laugh about. Far from it. Often people with chemical imbalances do not take medications, end up homeless, and in some instances commit suicide. (I have added this sentence in response to a heartwrenching post from one of my bloggers today.) This is no laughing matter by any means.
The conclusions drawn from this article on Cruise and Holmes is that they are both 'crazy' in their behavior, and act 'crazy ' for one another and consequently belong in straight jackets. This notion is offensive and insensitive to those individuals who suffer from serious mental illness and who have had to be committed and placed in straight jackets against their will.
Mental illness has ravishing affects on individuals and their families. Most people who are committed to mental hospitals do so unwillingly, and the pain for the person suffering with the illness as well as the families can cause much heartache and result in havoc on the entire family.
Since stigma against the mentally ill is a cause I fight for vigorously, I will ask that those who are offended by this cover to please contact the New York magazine at the following email address, and let them know that it is an inappropriate and insensitive cover for their magazine as well as a story that should not have been printed in such demeaning words towards those who suffer from mental illness. nyletters@newyorkmag.com
I have sent my own letter, without mincing but tempering my words.
Thank you for your minds.
The July 25th issue of the New York magazine shows a picture of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes in straight jackets :http:
newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/news/culture/features/12264/
index. html
The words 'crazy', 'breakdown', 'nutcase, are all condesending conclusions and not really funny especially to anyone who has had to deal with mental illness or a mentally ill realtive. As amusing and attention grabbing as these descriptive labels may be, they stigmitize those who suffer from serious mental illness and make it appear as if their condition is something to laugh about. Far from it. Often people with chemical imbalances do not take medications, end up homeless, and in some instances commit suicide. (I have added this sentence in response to a heartwrenching post from one of my bloggers today.) This is no laughing matter by any means.
The conclusions drawn from this article on Cruise and Holmes is that they are both 'crazy' in their behavior, and act 'crazy ' for one another and consequently belong in straight jackets. This notion is offensive and insensitive to those individuals who suffer from serious mental illness and who have had to be committed and placed in straight jackets against their will.
Mental illness has ravishing affects on individuals and their families. Most people who are committed to mental hospitals do so unwillingly, and the pain for the person suffering with the illness as well as the families can cause much heartache and result in havoc on the entire family.
Since stigma against the mentally ill is a cause I fight for vigorously, I will ask that those who are offended by this cover to please contact the New York magazine at the following email address, and let them know that it is an inappropriate and insensitive cover for their magazine as well as a story that should not have been printed in such demeaning words towards those who suffer from mental illness. nyletters@newyorkmag.com
I have sent my own letter, without mincing but tempering my words.
Thank you for your minds.
24 Comments:
one of my sons had mental health issues as well as major durg use both of which tended to cause him to get violent. Once you cross the line and become violent then the health and welfare of those you are violent too matter just as much or more than your rights. Because his illness was one of the causes of his violent behavior the judge gave him a chance to get drug and other counciling which he refused to do which after two court appearences and his rejection of what the judge ordered landed him in the drug and mental health wing of cook county jail. After that experence he learned to listen to the judge and is now doing his treatment.
yochanan,
I am very sorry to hear that you and your family have had to experience the nightmares of the mental health and criminal justice system combined. It can only be imagined how difficult this was on your son and your family.
Wishing you strength, and hope your son is doing well today.
You are absolutely right. Especially after Cruise's vociferous attack on Brooke Shields. What a hypocrite.
about the only thing i would listen to from an actor is acting many did not even finish high school. very few went to university and how few even got a b.a.
People with depression and related problems with out there medications offen have major problems up to and including suicide.
As I have said before, I have been the victim of domestic abuse, at the hands of my mother's husband. While I will never excuse his behavior (nor my mother's inability to protect her children) I know much of his irratation with me came from my non-diagnosed, and thus untreated, ADD.
There were periods of time when I would be very hyper, others when I would be very depressed. Sometimes I got my chores done, sometimes I didn't. All of these led to beatings for not feeling what I was supposed to (gratitude) or not doing what I was supposed (my chores.) In attmepts to explain, I often said "I forgot," which was the truth, although I was never believed.
I also had low grades. Each year I would pass "by the skin of my teeth." My disabilities were not recognized and, thus, I was punished by the school system with poor report cards with comments such as "does not pay attention;" "purposefully forgets her glasses;" "does not try" which led to further beatings from my mother's husband.
In my teen years and throughout my 20s I abused drugs in alcohol in an attempt to self medicate. I knew something was "wrong" but I never had the resources to find out what the "problem" was. Finally, at age 30, when I had health insurance I got an official diagonsis of ADD and I felt like screaming to the world "well no shit."
Now, as an adult, I am left holding the bag of abuse: physical, emotional, and substance. I have been in therapy for half a decade trying to get a handle on my emotions and how I express them. Had services been in place for me as a child maybe--just maybe-- I wouldn't have been punished for something I had no control over in the first place: being born with a "mental illness."
If I can be rather crass here: I find the strait jacket images iconic and don't half take them seriously. I also actually love the take about the nutiness of public figures- their "craziness" is just plain weirdness, and I think that most people understand this.
True mental illness, I think, is a whole other ball of wax. I may be totally wrong and totally insensitive, but as far as I know the straitjacket iconography surely does not represent it. I have friends and family with mental illness, and for me, the representations, like those in the article, are just so over the top, that I can't take it seriously. And none of my circle, btw, have worn the jacket.
And I think that's why the jacket iconography is so apt for the nuttiness of celebrity behaviour. Because in real life, that doesn't happen (as far as I know).
I do however, relate to your passion, bigtime!
Barefoot Jewess,
I appreciate your comments.
Actually, I have done much work with the mentally ill and had an opporutnity, in both a profesisonal and peronal capacity to know that many people have been confined to straight jackets against their will. As someone who works with NAMI, these issues are far from tongue and cheek and many families have had to deal with the personal experience of a relative put inside of a straight jacket.
Check out the website: www.nami.org.
Also, some good books on he subject: Susan Sheehan, Is there no Place on Earth for Me; THE QUIET ROOM: A JOURNEY OUT OF THE TORMENT OF MADNESS by LoriShiller; SURVIVING SCHIZOPHRENIA by E. Fuller Torrey, M.D.
You will see that the straight jacket is not something to laugh about for anyone.
Thank you for this post Barbara, and for your kind words today on my blog. Some with mental illness act out or demonstrate their illness, and some, are just quietly depressed. Sometimes they are "depressed to death."
These people have a brain disease; often it's a chemical imbalance which can be treated. But very often, it never is.
I certainly will contact the New York magazine. I don't believe that they meant harm. I do, however, believe that they would not make fun of black people, for example. People who have a brain disease are one of the last groups which it is still socially acceptable to "make fun of." It's done all the time.
It is unfortunate that the results of Cruises foolishness is the trivialization of a real issue
Tan Lucy is 100 percent correct.
Serious mental illness is a result of a chemical imbalance of the brain. When we speak of mental illness it is thought of in terms of major depression, bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia, or OCD.
Sometimes, these illnesses can be controlled with anti-psychotics and/or anti-depressiants. But many people refuse to take medication as they do not see that there is anything wrong with them, or the medications have horrible side effects,that they quit and live with the illness.
I am as passionate about treating people with mental illness with dignity and fairly as I am about the existence of the State of Israel.
Please educate yourselves. Often, when you see people who are on the streets talking to themselves,they are psychotic and not on medication. This is the best they can do.
I contribute and volunteer for many mental health groups.
Tan Lucy, my heart goes out to you and your daughters today. I wrote this post before I read your blog today. I dedicate it to the memory of your son and your family, in the hopes that people who read my blog will become aware of this very critical issue and be sensitive to the needs of those with mental illness.
I understand why you're upset. This was in poor taste, and it seems, meant to be a joke. The problem is that when we defend free speech, we defend it for everyone. I think voicing my opinion without demanding it's removal is he way I'll be handling my letter.
PC,
The article cannot be removed. It was already published, and this was the front page picture of the New York magazine.
The issue that I bring up deals with people educating themselves about mental illness, and fighting stigma that is attached to those suffering from it in society today.
This is not a laughing nor funny matter by any means.
I appreciate your taking time to write a letter and support the cause.
Thank you so much.
Thanks for this post, your kind words, and your advocacy, Barbara. It means a lot.
Barbara,
I stand corrected.
Barbara thank you for posting an informative and passionate insight on your feelings towards illnesses that some of us have.
I became very emotional reading through each & every comment before writing this.
Suffering from both physical and mental illnesses, I can relate to everything that you pointed out. I also took it to heart what TAN LUCY wrote. "Some with mental illness act out or demonstrate their illness, and some, are just quietly depressed. Sometimes they are "depressed to death."
I do most of those things at random without always knowing why. Coming from a family that suffers from this too, only sometimes adds to my reactions and have had many times of wanting to end it all.
Now since blogging it has helped some, but people that have got to know me, can tell by what I post if it is only a fill-in, a rant, or something deep meaning...perhaps that is where I got the name of it from.
In total agreement on writing letters to sources, actually today I added what already was on my computer to my blog..for easier access for others to write to ones that can change things.
Thank you Barbara again, and I totally admire and respect you for being the Advocate you are.
I really enjoyed your site! I'm also a mental health advocate, check out a few of my sites:
Take a Stand
Crazies Unite!
We're always looking for writers, if you would ever like to contribute something let me know!
PS: Can I link your site as a support blog?
Bipolar princess,
Please feel free to link my blog to yours.
I tried to click on those sites you supplied, but they came up blank.
If ever you want me to write something for your and/or your organization, it would be my absolute pleasure.
Be well.
Barbara - if you email me I can send you an invitation to write on the blog.
nicolep_75@yahoo.com
Barbara,
It may have been in bad taste for tom cruise to appear in a magazine wearing a straight jacket given his recent statements about the subject, however one thing that keeps me, a bipolar diagnosed person going is a sense of humor. I use the word crazy to describe myself and my actions. I'm not criticizing you. I'm just saying. keep it light.
Great site too.
This is from my Merck Manual (p. 435):
"Schizophrenia is a major public health problem throughout the world. The prevalence of schizophrenia worldwide appears to be slightly less than 1%, although pockets of higher or lower prevalence have been identified. In the U.S., people with schizophrenia occupy about 1/4 of all hospital beds and account for about 20% of all Social Security disability days. Schizophrenia is more prevalent than Alzheimer's disease, diabetes (I assume they mean Type I), or multiple sclerosis."
And that's just schizophrenia. Depression, borderline personality disorder, OCD, and other mental health conditions that interfere with people's lives and work are much more common. Ironic, then, when supposedly fiscally-minded legislators cut funding for mental health care.
Back to schizophrenia: I've been reading recent research linking it with toxoplasmosis in utero -- the reason they tell you not to change the cat box when you're pregnant -- as well as influenza during pregnancy. With emerging evidence that mental illnesses are biological and/or environmental, not character defects, and with our knowledge of how incredibly common they are, it amazes me that people continue to be so freaking ignorant (Tom Cruise) or insensitive ("crazy" jokes).
That said, I do agree with at least one other poster that certain mental illnesses (e.g., borderline personality disorder) can lead people to be hostile and violent, and that having compassion for such people shouldn't mean putting oneself in harm's way. The only way I can have compassion for my mother and brothers (all three with BPD) is to stay two states away from them.
Some many responses here, that I am going to create another post on mental illness, if I can today.
But for today:
Greg: I understand how much you must have suffered, and I hope for continued good mental health to you. May that be God's will.
OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) is very common among Jews, for some reason it has been linked with the repitition of much ritual, especially among the Orthodox. My grandmother was OCD, and I know that at times, this condition can interfere with people functioning to their fullest in society.
KikI -I am happy to hear that you are doing better today> Please do check in, as I really do care about this issue, and have lots of knowledge information and a good ear if you need to be heard. Ellen has my email address, and I will give her permission to give it to you, although I think you may have it as well.) Many individuals do have to be hospatilized on voluntary or involuntary holds in psychiatriac facilities, taking toll on everyone around you. May you as well continue on a good, healthy path.
Bipolar princess - I will send you my email address, and it will be my honor to contribute to your site.
The seriously ill - Using words like crazy, nuts, wako, even if used to poke at yourselves and make light of your own conditions are not perceived that way by the public at large, who are usually uneducated and miinformed on this serious issue. They will take the words and use them in a mean, berating and unflattering way. For this reason, I think it is important to protraray the mental ill in the most flattering of all lights, with dignity and respect that they and their families deserve.
WW- Yes Borderline personality Disorder is one that I failed to mention, along with MPD. I am going to create an entire post on this very important subject when I have the time.
Please, be kind and sensitive to those who are afflicted with a chemical imbalance of the brain. If a relative was hospitalized for cancer, one would go visit, call immediately and show up, so give those with mental health issues the same time and love.
Tom Criuse is good actor, but lets all face reality here - he is a fre fries short of a happy meal. The elevator goes to the top floor, but the doors do not open. The lights are on but nobody is home. And so on.
What I would like to know is why does the paper consider this news? This is NOT news, any more than the daily detailed reports of the Jackson trial was news.
Tom Criuse has a right to spew out Scientology mumbo-jumbo, but I also have a right to laugh at him for it. And also ignore him.
normalcy rarely finds its true expression in a political state. That said, (and it's difficult to deal with this topic in a word or two) mental illness often arises from a failure to adapt to socio-economic demands. Society functions best when we all fit neatly into useful roles. There are inevitably some who can't fit and the way for them is either into madness or genius-ness. Usually it is the former. Happily for the sufferer, there is a whole bureaucracy awaiting him or her to deal with their 'problem'.
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