Media Presentation of Mental Illnesses in Singapore (Essay Sample)

Media Presentation of Mental Illnesses in Singapore
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Media Presentation of Mental Illnesses in Singapore
Part A
Mental illness is a common phenomenon referred to as mental health disorder and refers to a range of mental health conditions that affect individuals' behavior, mood, and thinking (Rüsch, Angermeyer & Corrigan, 2005). According to Uher & Zwicker (2017), examples of mental illnesses include but are not limited to anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders, and addictions. Some signs of mental illnesses include high and low moods, social withdrawal, excessive fear, worry or anxiety, change in sleeping habits, and irritability or long-lasting sadness. While there has been much progress in treating mental illnesses worldwide, there is still room for further improvements regarding how patients of persons suffering from mental illnesses are handled. The level of depression and the number of young people who suffer from various mental challenges but do not seek help has been growing due to the increasing fear and cases of mistreatment that such people face in society. This calls for a closer look at the level of knowledge of society on the different mental disorders and their effects on society.
Victimization, stigmatization, misconceptions, diagnostic challenges, treatment challenges, legal and associated ethical issues are all important to society to ensure a better understanding of the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders. According to Zhang et al. (2019), globally, at least 70% of young people and adults with different psychiatric illnesses do not seek treatment. This statistic shows the deep-rooted lack of knowledge or fear of seeking treatment for possible dangerous conditions. Zhang et al. (2019) further suggest that the individuals who do not seek treatment usually have some level of fear that drives them away from seeking treatment besides the associated medical costs. One of these significant reasons for avoiding treatment is stigmatization and misconceptions regarding mental disorders. This article looks at the case of Singapore. It analyzes how the media in Singapore specifically presents mental illnesses and how these presentations affect people's attitudes towards mental illness. We will also reflect on how society can greatly manage stigma and discrimination against individuals suffering from mental illnesses. Finally, we will briefly look at the various insights gained from this module and how this would affect future performance as a practitioner.
Stigma and Misconceptions
According to Zhang et al. (2020), stigma is the attitude of disapproval towards a particular group or individuals with different