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Bipolar disorder in the news
DirtyDisco
2 posts
Mar 04, 2010
6:56 PM
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I live in Cincinnati, Ohio. Recently a man shot a police officer in the foot and the news made a big deal out of the fact he was bipolar. As you all know, the overwhelming majority of us mentally ill people are not violent, least of all to others. Why is it that it is such a big deal when one of us commits a crime? Why does it need to be pointed out that this man was bipolar as if that's the cause of his violent actions?
Everytime someone who has no mental illness commits a crime the news doesn't go out of the way to mention that they were NOT bipolar or otherwise mentally ill, notice that? The news never goes out of the way to mention race, religion, sexuaity etc. etc., either to suggest those traits were the cause of the person's violent actions.
This really bothers me, has anyone else noticed instances of this sort of bias or prejudice or fear-mongering against the mentally ill or whatever you want to call it, in the news? Because although I have bipolar disorder, the last time I hit anyone I believe I was about 6 years old and my sister was the victim, and it was probably over someone calling someone a "doody-head" or something else as stupid. I'm bipolar, and am and never have been a violent person.
Thoughts on this sort of thing?
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baco
228 posts
Mar 05, 2010
9:58 AM
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This is unfortunate. It is part of the stigma of mental illness. Most of the people who make the headlines have gone off of their treatment plan. THAT is an important point for all of US to remember.
Likewise, when someone is successful, they never seem to point out that this person has overcome their illness.
It is our reponsiblity, not just to speak out here in the room and message board, but in public as well. We need to let the public know that mentally ill people are just like everybody else, and that treatments and medicines work.
About 80% of the prison population nationwide has some kind of clinical mental illness. It is a very neglected problem.
You should copy your post and send it to your local paper.
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badmamajamahiking
34 posts
Mar 05, 2010
10:51 AM
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Also write to the television station telling how offended you are and why.
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YOGI
25 posts
Mar 05, 2010
8:07 PM
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I haven't read the news article, but the probability is that someone who knew him or his family, (or he, or his lawyer), raised his mental disorder as exculpation.
Cordially,
YOGI
"When you come to a fork in the road, take it." - Yogi Berra
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