TRIGGER WARNING: Mentions of mental illness, depression, suicide
We retrieved ourselves from the era where admitting mental illness made you ‘mad’ or ‘crazy’ or even ‘possessed by devils and witches. In those times, people condemned you for being forever ‘unloved’ just because you own some sort of psychological issue. Little did they know, that people need more LOVE and CARE if they are mentally not okay, probably even more than when people are physically ill. In those times, diagnosed people were associated as murders, criminals, harmful and, again, possessed.
With thriving awareness of this topic, the basic norms and stereotypes surrounding mental illness started to cease in many aspects. But have we gone too far? Has mental health become, uhm – alluring and ‘cool’ somehow? Well!
Today owning those same disorders, that once were aversive, somehow has become ‘different’, ‘cool’ and ‘intriguing’. With the presence of social media, mental talk has been reduced to being a mere aesthetic. Sad, right?
The dark filters and moon in the background with some sad quotes written conceal into becoming just a post. How is it de-stigmatizing depression in any sense?
How Are People Romanticizing Mental Illness?
Talking about depression is in all ways a win. But taking it in the right way is what we need. Today’s culture is beautifying depression and suicidal thoughts. As the cinema is presenting movies/series like 13 reasons why which glories the struggle that a depressive person goes through, it is leading to a path where having depression is ‘admirable’ and hence makes you ‘different and ‘captivating’.
With wearing these traumatic illnesses as a trend, it is being glamourized and used as nothing but attention-grabbing equipment.
Daily, people use the term depression in the most fallacious sense. For example- ‘Man I failed, I am so depressed.’ Or ‘I am having a panic attack; my mom is checking my phone.’ This is an indication of a lack of awareness around this topic and sheer ignorance.
Hashtags like #nobodycares, #deathisarelief or #tootiredtolive, or posts that adorn self-harming image (cuts on the wrist) is being widely formulated and popularized. These contents are glamourizing what is supposed to be a horrifying and the toughest experience of people’s life. Being sad is apprehensively being is-conceptualized.
What is its negative impact?
Since the good population is rolling being depressed as a trend, the real sufferers are overshadowed and their experiences remain unheard. The actual symptoms vary from person to people but awareness about it is comparably un-existing. If being depressed becomes beautiful and desirable, people and especially young ones will stop asking for medical help even if they are diagnosed.
The posts idolizing mental illness can act as a trigging point to a mass of people which may have drastic consequences. This misunderstood turmoil is what makes it quite menacing.
Executing death as beautiful could be fatal for many. If the idea of being ‘self-deprecating’, ‘depressed’, ‘anxiety-prone, suicidal’, etc. becomes enticing and mesmerizing to teens, it could harness wrong mentally among them. Rather than seeking therapy, they will harness it for their teen validation.
The distorted image of mental sickness is diminishing the amount of solemnity it holds. No matter what the surface may appear, this problem is deeply dangerous.
What do we need to do?
A medical professional always advise not to self-diagnose. Get help and only then revise yourself as mentally ill. Engaging in the right awareness is necessary today, especially via Social media.
Don’t post or promote any sort of aesthetic type of mental- health crafts. Don’t dictate disorders just by the understanding of local symptoms that are officiated on social media pages. Share useful information and promote authentic therapists that provide extensive knowledge rather than mere influencers that glorify these ideas.
Overall understand the adversity that a person with any sort of mental health goes through. Don’t minimize their struggle.
If you feel genuinely in need of help, KINDLY ASK FOR IT, CONTACT THERAPISTS, LET YOU YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS KNOW YOUR MENTAL STATUS. There are many local helplines available that you can access.
For Indian locales, contact-022 2454 6669.
Ask for help. You will find help.