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EastEnders - helping or hindering?
Posted Wednesday 11 July 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkkPL6pK9ns
Cordelia
This vlog (video diary) was originally posted on Cordelia's YouTube channel - all are welcome to join her on her journey and take part in the conversations.
If you've seen great TV, heard great radio, or would like EastEnders to win, please suggest a winner for our Mind Media awards.
16 Comments
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Eastenders, Holby and Casualty portray appalling mental health story lines,which offer text book nasty stereotypes of PD, standard medical line of anyone with depression/psychosis is fine as long as they are on the "right" medication and educate no one other than putting names to behaviour.
Why do we keep giving these programme's awards?
If the BBC were talking to the "experts" they would be talking to people with first hand experience
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I was not diagnosed at the time when 'Stacey Branning' had her struggles with Bipolar. However looking back at the scenes I can certainly identify with *some* of her distressing behaviour. Soaps have to get the balance right between realistic portrayals without being too dramatic, causing for a sensational storyline, and not fitting into a nasty stereotype. We have to remember that each person with a mental illness reflects that illness differently. I have Bipolar 1 but I do not really overspend, nor take drugs or drink. Others do when becoming unwell. It must be hard for the soaps, and it depends on who they speak with, but at least they are getting people to talk about mental health, surely that cannot be a bad thing?
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Very good video.
I was one of those who raised the question of whether Eastenders were actually more contributing to the stigma.
I did it via this blog post: http://beautyfrompainblog.com/2012/05/28/are-soap-operas-contributing-to-mental-health-mis-conceptions/
I do get the point that Eastenders are making i.e. that anyone can be affected by mental illness, no matter how stable or successful they had seemed previously.
This video suggests that those who are raising the questions such as those that I did are missing this point, but I am certain that I am not missing the point.
But my point is that most mental health patients don't end up walking down the motorway in their dressing gown, and subsequently as a homeless tramp. And that perhaps by only usually highlighting the extreme cases, the 'worst case scenario' that soaps are perhaps contributing to a mis-conception of what mental illness is.
Yes, this is mental illness, and it is good to get people talking about it, but there is a lot, lot more to mental illness than this, and it would be nice to see more stories shown which reflect the more common cases.
Eastenders currently has almost 50 characters, meaning that if this was real life almost 10 of them are experiencing a mental health problem. These will range from minor mental health issues which allow them to carry on with their everyday lives to severe and enduring illnesses which leave them unable to function.
But in terms of telling stories of mental health problems, we are only usually shown the severe cases. I definitely get the point that Eastenders are making that anyone can suffer from a mental health problem, but I would also like to see them making the point that there are less severe mental health problems that people experience every day.
Personally I think that it is too much of a coincidence that the less 'crazy' stuff wouldn't make good viewing.
One might say that they are doing good by getting us talking - after all, if it wasn't for them this discussion wouldn't be happening right now, but I feel that they have a long, long way to go before getting it right.
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I doubt very highly that a show like Eastenders can portray mental illness realistically because it thrives on sensationalism. It is the soap opera equivalent of a tabloid newspaper.
Even if it is portraying mental illness realistically the fact is this show has a reputation for sensationalism.
Personally I refuse to watch a show that relies so heavily on 'hot button' topics to get an audience. Frankly I can't believe that it is a positive way to highlight such issues. I believe there are far better ways to highlight these issues and I'd go even further and say this approach is more likely to enforce stigmatism and stereotypes.
I refuse to watch Eastenders because it relies on being depressing to try and make audiences feel better about their lives. Eastenders never did this for me - it just made me even more depressed. -
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on portrayals of mental health in the media. I also live with Bipolar and function the same as any other person for long periods of time. I agree to some extent that showing story lines is important to raise awarness of the sometimes severe impact of mental illness but always find it difficult to see it turned into a sensationalised story line as often happens.
Having been through a recent very big relapse, my biggest for many years. I am currently finding myself receiving poor assistance to regain normality. Perhaps TV producers need to focus on the cuts in care many are now receiving as causal in ill health as my recent experience has left me dumbfounded by how little support I have actually had from mental health services in my locality.
I feel TV needs to focus on the hidden causes of mental illness also such as poor access to in some areas non existant services. What happened to access to psychological services for all?
As I have been off ill I have had time to watch daytime TV and often think get Jeremy Kyle to do a storyline of the real impact of mental illness in the 21st Century and screen it peak time and ensure key government figures watch and learn. -
While I agree that these story lines are not "true to reality" with regards to mental health....what part of these kind of shows are true to reality?? If we wanted to watch something that was a genuine likeness to reality, we wouldn't choose this type of show to watch but rather a documentary...
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Actually I just have one other thing to add.
Re what I said 'I feel that they have a long, long way to go before getting it right. ' I think I phrased that badly.
I don't think there is any right or wrong. And everything they do is going to make some unhappy and some happy. Everything they do will raise praise from some, but criticism from others.
But rather than it being a case of 'getting it right', I think it's a case of painting the most realistic picture as possible. Some will praise, some will criticise, but if it's as true a picture of the reality of it as possible, then that's the best we can ever really ask for, in my opinion.
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A quick caveat here as I've not watched the YouTube clip (for technological reasons.
Soap opera portrayals of mental health issues only serve to reinforce the stigma surrounding the various conditions as despite the ubiquity of mental illness it will be still many people's only real exposure to it and 'what they see on telly's true, innit?'
Mental health only works in a (soap) narrative context to provide 'drama' and 'excitement'. Any suggestion (from programme makers) that it's there to "inform" is, frankly, bull. People don't watch television like EastEnders &c. for 'infotainment' or cinema verite style depictions of people and the writers know this. At best it's caricatures and stereotypes and at worse it's sheer fantasy aimed at titillating the audience.
Whilst it may appear to be a sweeping generalisation, I'd hedge a fairly certain bet that a large portion of the viewing demographic of EastEnders doesn't really care how accurate any portrayal is anyway, they just want to be entertained and colourful nutjobs hit the mark for them far more than some kind of Mike Leigh bleak-fest. If they wanted 'real life' they wouldn't be watching escapist soaps.
Also, the greatly varied nature of people's experiences will also make it difficult to create an accurate representation as there's no single 'real' representation. I'm aware that Ian Beale's situation has been seen as too extreme by some, however, it will be nearer the mark for others who will not recognise the 'naval gazing' and angst shown by some television characters suffering from depression where they're shown as being racked with angst when taking a course of anti-depressants: 'oh no! I'll have to take a single, unnamed, special tablet everyday for the rest of my life!'
The truth of it is that much of mental health isn't good telly. A lot of it's mundane and grindingly boring. Most of my time in hospital, day hospital, residential supported care and in self-help groups has meant being surrounded by people with not much else going on other than chain-smoking, consuming vast quantities of tea and toast.
The 'entertaining' or harrowing bits tended to be far less frequent than the hundrum bits. Most seriously depressed people have problems motivating themselves to do anything at all, least of all be 'entertaining' in a televisual sense and episodes of crying don't make for much more than a 'duff duff duff' end of show 'money shot'. As for the television-ready, colourful psychotics who are always 'good for a laugh', they can only be amusing or bemusing for so long before something gives and it's suddenly unsettling and not very funny at all.
My biggest peeve with all this is the 'single psychotic episode and then all sorted' portrayals of mental illness when a complete, histrionic breakdown (enacted in the wildest ways imaginable) leads a to complete recovery in a matter of weeks with no repercussions whatsoever. As soon as the 'mental health' angle has served its purpose in a story arc, as if by magic, it's no longer an issue and the sufferer can get back to being a surgeon, mountain-climber or running a boozer.
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@ Ben and other good folk who have kindly commented!
Ben, so sorry to hear you have been through a recent relapse (((((((hugs))))))))
You have highlighted something very important in your next line. You say you are currently finding yourself receiving poor assistance. This unfortunately has been echoed to me by a lot of people today.
It is the cuts to mental health funding that is responsible. We desperately need more help, in many areas. My heart really goes out to all who are suffering due to these cuts. What I have said to others and will repeat here is this. Today I switched my degree with the OU in classical studies to a certificate in mental health. I have also volunteered with the Samaritans. WE are the professionals when it comes to mental health. Why let our disability hold us back from helping others? Anyone can do what I have done today and it will really help. We need volunteers, mental health advocates etc WE can do this! Will people please have a think about it? Blessings to all! -
I do worry when so many people are of the opinion that everyone with a mental health issue should act exactly the same, and that is even more worrying when it come from people who have experienced mental health problems themselves.
I have read many comments on the Ian Beale story line from people saying "how unrealistic, I never acted like that" or "anyone who really had an illness would not do this/that, the other" if we as sufferers cannot recognise and accept that mental health problems manifest themselves in a million and one different ways and the symptoms/actions of sufferers vary from individual to individual in many cases, how can we go out into the community and try to reduce stigma and discrimination.
The discussions that are taking place all over the net ARE encouraging, people ARE talking about mental health and like it or not, the fact that mental health issues are getting prime time exposure can only help with getting awareness raised and stigma reduced.
By the way, I must declare a vested interest as it was me that advised eastenders as a script advisor through time to change,
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Talking for the sake of talking isn't good enough for me, often soaps make characters the butt of jokes or a spectacle, this is not their intention but that's the result.
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I haven't watched Eastenders for a long time. Whats happening with Lofty and Michelle?
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I agree with Mel above. You're watching a drama, a soap. Programmes like that crave ratings by sensationalising storylines. Like others have said, only documentaries specifically about MH should we be critical of if we're not happy. Take care all.
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I thought Enders did a very good job when they ran The Stacey bipolar story.
However, now everyone in the show is calling Jean (Stacey's mother with bipolar) mad, a loon, crazy etc. Yes this shows some peoples ignorance, but it seems to endorse the view that everyone with a mental illness is 'mad'. -
Cordelia,
I too have volunteered, and it has been great to give something back.
However people with mental illness who cannot function cannot and should not be expected to take this 'peer support' bandwagon and try to minister to others when they are sick themselves. This popular idea that we should take back mental health services and deliver them on a peer level is unrealistic, how can you help someone else when you're already drowning yourself?
I know of people who get a lot of personal satisfaction 'helping' others in the same boat, who are using that interaction to stroke their own ego and deny what they need to be doing, which is taking care of themselves.
People with mental health issues are vulnerable to the volunteering issue, often people with mental ill health are very giving, loving individuals with poor boundaries and a low sense of self esteem, who will keep on looking after everyone else while their own health suffers. Often training in peer support can be poor, issues like safe guarding and dealing with violence and risk need specialist training that volunteers don't get.
Lastly, if we buy this idea that we should deliver care ourselves, we are letting the government and health system off the hook. Why should they bother to sort out access and funding when they can set up a few peer support systems and sit back and let us deal with each other?
The Samaritans are great. Peer support can be great. But it's a poor substitute for the care we deserve and aren't able to give each other. Mental health is more than a disability, it can be life threatening. Don't we deserve care on a par with physical health care?
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@ Heather Ross. I read your comment with great interest. I agree those with mental health issues are very caring people who naturally want to help. Yet we too are vulnerable and need help and to protect ourselves. There is an issue in if we step up to help others it is letting the health care system off the hook. I agree mental disabilities need to be catered for in the same way physical disabilities are. *Equality for all.*
However if you are stable, are well, have had the right training and have the right support in place to enable you to carry out a job...why not? It is not everyone's cup of tea appreciated, but being mentally unwell we are more than just the diagnostic label around our necks. I for one am not going to let a part of me that sometimes does not function well hold the rest of me back that genuinely wants to work within this field.I will work only when well. We have to set boundaries. I don't see it as letting the government off the hook. I am not the sort of person who would tolerate behaviour like that without fighting for equal rights. So the way I see it, whilst I appreciate the mentally unwell need a lot of help, training and support. There is no reason at all why when balanced, well and stable we cannot work...and why not in a field in which we after all we are the real experts?
If someone feels they are drowning then support services are not doing their job properly. This needs to be urgently reviewed. Those who are able and really feel the passion to reach out to fellow sufferers are more than capable in my opinion and will make for better supporters than those who have no idea what it is like to experience mental distress except that which the text books state
*sighs*
With respect.
Cordelia
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