Does The Media Identify Mentally Ill People True Or False?

First of all, people who are responsible for vicious crimes may gain a lot of publicity from the media despite the fact that only a very miniscule percentage of mentally ill people actually are violent. This may give the impression that all mentally ill people are violent which is false. Since the media tends to focus mainly on sensational news stories, to increase their ratings, mentally ill people can easily gain a lot of publicity in a very short time. Some violent crimes that are seen are shootings. Each major shooting that is covered by the mass media may inspire or trigger another mentally ill person to carry out a “copy-cat” crime. These mass shooters are hungry for notoriety or recognition and become “infamous” instead. Some examples …show more content…
The inaccurate and false way the media present such individuals, shapes the attitude and influences certain types of behaviours of people in our society. For example, people who suffer from metal illness face many barriers that prevent them from taking part in the work force due to prejudice. Those who suffer from mental illness are described as “evil, violent, crazy and a danger to themselves or society,”. These statements are based on the false truth. Being described as such, ultimately excludes them from having an equal opportunity of obtaining a job and prevents mentally ill people from becoming active participants in the competitive labour market. This makes it extremely difficult to find work. An absence of work means that they are not able to support themselves financially. In other words, it results in a lack of income. The consequence to this, is the loss of shelter. Therefore, many people who are mentally ill are homeless. Not only does this mean that they are denied a place to live, but they are also denied healthcare because they do not have a fixed