Media Representation Of Ptsd

[Happy Head]

It infuriates me that the media searches for a mental illness every time there is a shooting or violence. I understand the correlation but by reporting on it as the "only" cause of violence doesn't help the stigma of people with PTSD or any other mental illness.

I'm speaking specifically of yesterday's shooting at Mt. Rainer (Washington, USA). The first thing the media reported about the suspect was that he was an Iraq vet with PTSD. It worries me because that feeds into a false understanding of PTSD for the general public. Many people are beginning to associate all vets with PTSD and they associate ANYONE with PTSD with PTSD as violent and untrustworthy. This has to stop.

OK, I'll get off my soapbox, I just had to vent (Though honestly I don't feel any better :mad:).

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[intothelight]

This is infuriating, but it is what increases viewership. Whether or not this is PTSD related would be entirely up to a psychiatrist, and not a journalist. Too bad the common viewer will never make that distinction and you are correct; stories like this will fuel stereotypes and misconception.

 

[Ted Moen]

The media falls into the category of things we have no control over. Stuff that attracts our attention and triggers intense thoughts and feelings, like a combat vet living out PTSD symptoms, also attracts the media. It's not about the media response. It's about intense thoughts and feelings related to living out our symptoms, about the effort it takes to manage our behavior with those thoughts and feelings raging in the background, about the desire to just give into the intense thoughts and feelings and let the chips fall where the may.

Ted

 

[Happy Head]

But what about the general public that has no idea how it really is to live with this disorder? They're being fed false information and therefore not helping us out at all.

 

[KP the nut]

It is the same in the UK. There was a shooting over Christmas. A man, shot three women and then killed himself.

The only thing the media is delving into is that the man MAY have been depressed and threatening to harm himself a few years ago. Also if that was the case, why was he given licence to keep weapons?

Maybe, it is a 'civilised' society which has to proof that anyone who commits these crimes are 'mental'. I don't know.

 

[Happy Head]

The media falls into the category of things we have no control over.
Ted

The more I think about this the more I think I disagree. My T always tells me I have to advocate for myself with those I work for. Perhaps by writing Op-eds for local newspapers, or standing up at city council meetings (not sure what you have in the UK) we can help our identity. I know we're scared to do this (me included) becuase we are afraid - mainly becuase of why? The stigma.

Maybe, it is a 'civilised' society which has to proof that anyone who commits these crimes are 'mental'. I don't know.

Right, because people who don't live with this stuff daily can't imagine what it's like - nor can they imagine themselves hurting someone so naturally they have to blame something... mental illness is always the culprit and therefore all mentally ill are bad. (to them - we know better)

 

[maddog]

Yes, the Washington shooting found its way into the headlines all the way over here in Australia too, and again, the "grab" was as you say Happyhead - an Iraq vet with PTSD... (insert scary music...)

It bothered me, the way these things always do, and it coincided with a bit of a media flurry over here right now about the increase in mental illness in our returned service men and women. The media paint this eerie picture of mysterious torment that fuels this kind of conflicted pity and fear in the public - it's really rather vile and makes me angry enough to walk away most of the time.

Then again, it's the same with mental illness generally, even in spite of the so-called "increased acknowledgement and acceptance" in society today.

Maddog

 

[mamachick]

I think a big part of the problem is that mental illness is still so misunderstood and most of us do not want to put our faces on that milk carton. Awareness is so important yet with others preconception, it is difficult to not keep any mental illness private with the exception of those close to us, and maintain self preservation.

Yet when there is a violent crime such as those mentioned, aside from drug related, I would guess a large percentage is suffering some form of mental illness to commit it, yet it may be anti social personality disorder (sociopath). Even so, if we consider the numbers of people with mental illness, the percentage that commit such crimes must be very, very low.

There does need to be much more public education about mental illness in general. I have noticed that certain professionals that should be educated on this topic are often not. I am painfully aware how many police officers are ignorant of mental illness.

 

[Happy Head]

I'm so happy that this article came out of the VA today.

 

[horizons]

YIPPEE awesome article. I'd personally like to see the term "mental illness" discarded, especially where ptsd is concerned. The stigma is an enormous barrier to understanding,and more importantly a factor in denial. Anyway, that's another post - glad the media is picking up some "real" stories :-)

 

[Happy Head]

I read somewhere recently that they are considering calling PTSD a form of brain injury rather than mental health disorder. I think the VA is the one talking about it if I remember correctly.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

HappyHead,

This makes sense to me.

Why?

You can inherit an anxiety disorder.
You can inherit bipolar disorder.
You can inherit schizophrenia.
You can inherit ADD/ADHD.

However, you CANNOT inherit PTSD.

(All genetically speaking that is.)