Mental Health

Although my mental health has certainly been a hindrance in my general musical well-being and overall wellness. I certainly believe it has some advantages. There is well known research that sites the high level of intelligence of those with bipolar disorder as well as the famous creative side of the illness.

            Is it a blessing or a curse? This is an important question that needs to be discussed more. There are obvious “hang ups” like stigma and unwanted labelling from others. But I question whether sometimes its maybe even me who labels myself (although I am not saying others don’t too).

            However, another question to ask is weather I do labelling that because of the messages I receive about my illness from others or the media. This is why I think I would like to join the movement that is already up and running to open up the discussion with people about mental health.

            I feel that I would like to touch on the way mental health is portrayed in the media as it is not always mature. It is often the lowest common denominator or a cheap thrilling way to catch people’s attention. Although it is “time to talk and time to change” I find it bizarre that something so serious is often used to add some spice to shows rather than being the focal point. Mental health is often slapstick or dismissed in the media. In my opinion this encourages many young people with a mental health issue to label themselves and dismiss themselves as down beat if they have depression or just wacky even if they have something serious like psychosis. Serious Bodily illnesses take centre stage in many films and tv shows. Why shouldn’t mental health. I think the reason for this is many cultures like the Indian one I am from view it as extremely uncomfortable.

            There are of course some exceptions to the slant media give to mental health like silver linings playbook. But my main critique of even this film with all its mastery of the craft of acting and fantastic script is that the idea of bipolar is romanticised. The conclusion is that two people with mental health end up happily ever after. Of course, this is not the main message. But still for me it felt like two people were being pushed together because of an illness. I find this bizarre and a little humiliating. I was however impressed by Bradley Coopers manner in interviews about the film as he never pitied the character he played.

            And I think this is the main point. Not to mask a sense of discomfort pity or even dread with romantic stories or notions. Although silver linings playbook really struck a chord with me as it showed with great accuracy the aspect of social isolation and the mania aspect of the illness and its affect. It nevertheless felt like the stars of the movie ultimately were put on the back burner in terms of their desires. Two people with mental health were forced to make the best of a bad bargain.

            I feel the question we should ask ourselves if we have mental health disorders is what we would want if we didn’t have this disorder. And quite often with bipolar sometimes these desires turn into over ambitious wild manias. But improvement the treatment of bipolar we need to take the lead and tell society who we are without our diagnosis. Contrary to the messages we get from tv and film that we are at the bottom of the barrel of humanity and we need to be kept together in the dare I say it “loony bin” category.

            We need to be more empowering of ourselves. Not simply that even in periods of wellness we need to be in support groups (although these are helpful and have their place) for the mentally ill. Or matched up with others of the same set of mental illnesses. As harsh as it sounds you wouldn’t pair a man and a woman with the same physical illness so why do it with a brain illness.

            If we were to say that the brain is part of the body which it is. Then mental health is physical health in a way. This brings me to another point. In many old cultures mental illness is seen as something brought about by being possessed by ghosts or other superstitious ideas. In Hindu texts it can sometimes be misconstrued that ill mental health is a product of a high libido. These deep-rooted ideas do not help the matter of stigma and I feel I would love to be someone who gives more clarity to this topic.

            In conclusion this is a difficult subject that requires great care in its presentation and requires people to have the correct or latest information to hand and as someone with a diagnosis I would love to help people to educate themselves better.