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Generation
Next
Mental Health Depictions
for Storytellers –
Writers/Reporters/Announcers
/Producers
Introducing Generation Next…
We encourage you to join Generation Next and be a part of
the “ART of making a difference.”
Generation Next Features:
• Mentoring session with media experts
• Qualifying Productions aired on
EICnetwork.tv, a global internet television
network
•Curricular resources for faculty and students
•Distribution of Press Release and Special
News Story about student involvement to
address mental health concerns.
•Social Media push of qualifying productions
through EIC
It Begins With Story
Screenwriters, directors, and producers have significant potential to
influence public understanding and reduce the stigma surrounding
mental illness.
“Stories are how we think. They are how we make meaning of
life. Call them schemas, scripts, cognitive maps, mental models,
metaphors, or narratives. Stories are how we understand our
place in the world, create our identities, and define and teach
social values.”
(Dr. Pamela Rutledge, Director, Media Psychology Research Center)
As we tap into the psychology of characters, we begin to realize
how complex human beings really are. The greatest battles
characters fight are with themselves.
“Stories are the creative conversion of life itself into a more
powerful, clearer, more meaningful experience. They are the
currency of human contact.”
Robert McKee, Author & Professor
It Begins With Story
Exploring mental health issues offers the writer an
opportunity to delve into and understand the
complex inner world of someone living with a mental
illness.
Authentic stories and compelling characters can
influence and encourage those who need help to
seek help.
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Why mental health matters?
Helping the audience better understand mental illness can reduce
barriers to treatment and recovery.
“Colleges across the country are reporting large increases in the
prevalence and severity of mental health conditions experienced by
students.”
(NAMI, College Students Speak)
In the past year:
•1 out of 4 college students experienced some form of mental illness
•Over 30% of U.S. college students felt so depressed they were unable
to function
•Half of them felt overwhelming anxiety
•64% of students who need help do not seek treatment
•Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among college students
What depictions come to mind
when we talk about mental illness?
Stigma and discrimination often prevent us from talking about mental health issues except
when a crisis occurs.
For example:
•Someone harming or killing him or herself.
•Someone randomly shooting innocent people or committing other
violent acts.
In reality:
• People living with mental illness are responsible for no more than 5%
of violent acts in America.
•People living with mental illness are more often the victims, not
perpetrators, of violence.
What depictions come to mind
when we talk about mental illness?
Whenever possible, we encourage the depiction of characters with
a mental illness who are nonviolent.
90% of people who die by suicide have a diagnosable mental
illness and/or substance abuse disorder at the time of their
death, which is just one piece of a very complex picture.
Many of these lives can be saved through early intervention.
Understanding your character’s
history
Individuals with the same diagnosis may experience symptoms
differently.
“Since most writing is a personal exploration into new territory, it
demands some research to make sure that the character and context
make sense and ring true.”
(Linda Seger, Creating Unforgettable Characters)
Mental illness can be defined as psychological distress that impairs:
• Everyday living
• Work
• Relationships
• Social lives
• Family life
Understanding your character’s
history
What Causes Mental Illness?
Physical (hardware)
• Damage: drug/alcohol use, traumatic brain injuries, fetal
alcohol syndrome, dementia, neurological
Neurological (software)
• The brain isn’t communicating: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder,
depression, OCD
Environmental (user errors)
• PTSD
Understanding your character’s
history
Mental illness covers a wide range of conditions:
•Anxiety Disorders: PTSD, OCD, panic, social anxiety
•Mood Disorders: Depression, bipolar
•Psychotic disorders: Schizophrenia
•Eating Disorders: Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating
•Impulse control and addiction disorders: Pyromania, kleptomania,
compulsive disorders
•Personality disorders: Antisocial, paranoid
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What external conflicts could your
character be facing?
Stigma and discrimination remain the utmost barriers to seeking help.
The effects of stigma and discrimination:
•Isolation from friends and family
•Unfair treatment in education
•Discrimination in employment
•Difficulty renting an apartment
A character may not seek help because:
•Stigma
•Fear
•Concern about social standing or loss of job
•Mistrust
•Cultural norms
•Stereotypes
•Lack of information
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How can we depict mental illness
in a non-discriminatory way?
As you develop your story and characters, consider the following:
Tell the Complete Story:
•Mental health conditions do not define a person or character. The
experiences that shape characters’ lives are part of the larger story.
•Look for ways to create realistic, nuanced characters with a mental
health condition, rather than overly emphasizing symptoms to
dramatize content.
•Consider using storylines, including the ongoing recovery process and
impact on friends and family, that span multiple episodes to
meaningfully portray the many facets of living with a mental health
condition.
How can we depict mental illness
in a non-discriminatory way?
Choose your words and tone carefully:
•The person is not the illness. Emphasize that a character is living
with, for example, a bipolar disorder rather than saying, “she’s
bipolar.”
•Avoid using derogatory slang such as “he’s psychotic,” “gone
nuts,” “acting deranged” in a way that reinforces discrimination.
•Consider using humor and self-disclosure, both effective
methods for communicating mental health issues, in your
storylines.
How can we depict mental illness
in a non-discriminatory way?
Accurately depict a character’s diagnosis
•A character experiencing changes in appetite, sleep, energy
levels, or concentration can educate the audience about the
common warning signs of mental health conditions.
•In addition to self-care, encourage accurate diagnoses and
professional help. For example, your character may visit an
experienced mental health professional to confirm a diagnosis.
How does culture shape a
character’s values and belief system?
Stories submitted to the Generation Next competition must focus on
one or more underserved populations such as:
•Youth and young adults (ages 16-25)
•Members of ethnic groups (African-American, Latino, Asian/Pacific
Islander and Native American)
•LGBTQ individuals
•Rural residents
•Seniors
How does culture shape a
character’s values and belief system?
When depicting characters within specific ethnic populations or
minority groups, consider the following:
For example,
•A number of population groups believe that mental health issues are
best dealt with “among their own.”
•Socio-economics, language barrier, stigma and discrimination, lack of
access to treatment facilities play a big part in determining whether a
person who needs help will seek and receive treatment.
•In addition, religious and spiritual traditions vary and greatly influence
people’s coping mechanisms and views.
What central theme does your
character embody?
In the end, what matters most is the emotional impact the character’s journey
has on its audience, and the underlying meaning of that journey.
Portraying mental health in a positive light:
•Depict characters as not seeing crises as
insurmountable problems, but looking toward solutions
and acting accordingly.
•Show a character in a stressful situation thinking in a
broader context and keeping a long-term perspective.
•Showcase characters who have good relationships with
close family members, friends, and others and who
accept help and support from those who care about
them, which helps maintain their positive mental health
state.
•Most people with mental illnesses recover and go on to
lead very successful lives. Consider depicting characters
who are professionals, respected members of their
communities, and have successful families.
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You can make a difference…
You can foster an environment that promotes social inclusion and
understanding in your creative endeavors and in everyday life by
following these simple rules:
•Avoid labeling people with words like “crazy,” “wacko,” “loony,” or
by their diagnosis.
•Don’t rely on hearsay or stereotypes: learn the real facts about
mental health and share them with others.
•Treat people who have a mental health condition with respect and
dignity, as you would anybody else.
Mental Health Resources for
Storytellers
The following resources are available at: eiconline.org/swpa-gen-next
About Mental Health:
About Storytelling:
•TEAM Up (Tools for Entertainment
and Media)
•TEAM Up for Entertainment
•Each Mind Matters
•SAMHSA
•National Suicide Prevention
Lifeline
•Active Minds
•MHA The Village
•Depiction Suggestions
•Style Guide
•First Person Accounts
•Articles
•A New State of Mind: Ending the
Stigma of Mental Illness
(documentary)
Generation Next Campaign
Generation Next Film and Television Campaign
Spring 2015
Application Deadline: March 31, 2015
Final Projects Deadline: April 7, 2015
Q&A
eiconline.org/swpa-gen-next