Thanks. I am a medical laboratory scientist at a small hospital where “everybody knows everything and everyone.” Throughout the work day I hear various derogatory comments about “crazy” people and how they can’t really take comments from people with mental illness seriously spoken by co-workers who should know better. These are “educated” people. Some are Christians. Neither gives them the right to make blanket statements/judgments like this. Once in a while I reply that we don’t know their situation and that just puts them on the defensive track. I can tell who has their mind made up and won’t budge in their opinions so I leave them alone. I have been known to have strong opinions myself so, to each their own.
I have watched many popular TV shows such as CSI, NCIS and Blue Bloods. I think some shows and movies are OK but I cringe when scripts make fun of anyone even close to a mental illness. What I’ve written to you is what I’d like to send the producers. I’m not sure one letter would do any good. One avenue that may be more effective is social media such as Facebook and Twitter. Many people can be “heard” that way. Not sure the original message gets to the right people in the industry but it is a start!
Hope you have a good week!
Blessings
LuAnn

Thank you for stopping by and commenting LuAnn. I appreciate your comments. Mental health and medicine are not accurately portrayed in TV and film, but I am definitely not an expert since I don’t watch much television!

http://thehappyphilosopher.com/kill-your-television/

The more we can have open and honest conversations about mental illness and suicide, the better chance there is to find solutions to these complex problems.

P.S. I found your article on Kevin MD.

Thanks for your comment Joe. We lost a fine human and fine physician.

Thank you for the kind words.