Why is it that 61% of the American public thinks people suffering from schizophrenia are inherently violent and more prone to be dangerous to others? According to the
Surgeon General's 1999 Mental Health report, "The discrimination and
stigma associated with mental illnesses largely stems from the link
between mental illness and violence in the minds of the general public (Mental Health, 1999). Where does this perception come from and how is it perpetuated? NMHA reports that as many as 75% of stories by the Screen Actor's Guild where mental illness was a theme, violence was the primary focus (SAMHA, 2007). Imagine if 75% of televisions shows featuring a visually or hearing impaired person portrayed them as violent. How about a person with a learning disability? It is hard to imagine this type of negative stereotype would be sanctioned in today's culture. Yet somehow, this inaccurate portrayal of persons with mental health problems continues today in at least a third of all television programs (SAMHA, 2007).
DO YOU KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS?
People with schizophrenia are more likely to be dangerous to others. What percentage of Americans are unwilling to be friends with someone with mental health problems? What percentage don't want a to work closely with someone with schizophrenia ? What percentage of people are unwilling to have someone marry into their family if they suffer from depression? People with mental illness are more likely to be victims than perpetrators of violent crime. (SAMHA, 2007) |
