Mental health and the death of the "headclutcher" picture

[royalscot]

Mental health and the death of the "headclutcher" picture - BBC News

A campaign backed by Stephen Fry has been launched to try to change the type of images used by the media for stories about mental health. But what is wrong with the ones currently used?
A solitary figure, with their head in their hands, more often than not cast in dark, sombre lighting. These stock images, often termed the "headclutcher", have become a familiar sight in media portrayals of mental illness.

 

[Viligant_Warrior]

Mental illness is tragic, particularly since it usually results from what is becoming known as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE), which involves trauma of all sorts, whether from physical, emotional, or sexual abuse committed by parents, siblings, relatives or peers, the loss of a parent -- whether through divorce, death, or incarceration -- or severe illness or injury. A 1995-1997 study by Kaiser Permanente in San Diego involving 17,332 adults found, astoundingly, that 2/3 of those adults with series physical, emotional, or mental health problems reported at least one ACE in their assessment history.

The impact of an ACE is dramatic. An adult with on ACE is more than twice as likely to develop a debilitating illness -- cancer, heart disease, diabetes, addition, or depression. An adult with two ACEs is four times more likely, and with each additional ACE, the percentage of adult illness or affliction increases exponentially.

My point is, with these tragic events that could be avoided with proper early intervention, what do the politically correct expect news media to use as a graphic for mental illness? A smiley face? Somehow I don't think that's appropriate, either.

 

[royalscot]

Mental illness is tragic, particularly since it usually results from what is becoming known as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE), which involves trauma of all sorts, whether from physical, emotional, or sexual abuse committed by parents, siblings, relatives or peers, the loss of a parent -- whether through divorce, death, or incarceration -- or severe illness or injury. A 1995-1997 study by Kaiser Permanente in San Diego involving 17,332 adults found, astoundingly, that 2/3 of those adults with series physical, emotional, or mental health problems reported at least one ACE in their assessment history.

The impact of an ACE is dramatic. An adult with on ACE is more than twice as likely to develop a debilitating illness -- cancer, heart disease, diabetes, addition, or depression. An adult with two ACEs is four times more likely, and with each additional ACE, the percentage of adult illness or affliction increases exponentially.

My point is, with these tragic events that could be avoided with proper early intervention, what do the politically correct expect news media to use as a graphic for mental illness? A smiley face? Somehow I don't think that's appropriate, either.

awareness is the point. Stephen Fry is trying to make.
the piano player. etc