Postcard For Reader

Allison from Good Books & Good Wine on The Stigma of Mental Disorders and YA Books

The Stigma of Mental Disorders and YA Books: Breaking the Barrier
In all societies, there seems to be an often unspoken stigma that comes attached to mental disorders. It does not matter what the disorder is, or who the individual is, if they suffer from a mental disorder, they are perceived as being wrong. In fact, many times the individual is perceived as not only being wrong but also as being “crazy”, or “dangerous”, or above anything else “not normal”. They are often referred to by their disorder, and they are not seen as being full functioning individual members within society.

Individuals with mental disorders are usually marginalized and not accepted. They tend be seen as frightening and embarrassing even if they do not necessarily show the signs of a mental disorder. This is often more related to the context of mental disorders rather than a person’s appearance. The context of a mental disorder in society perceives the person to be damaged, and it is a believed that a damaged person cannot hold a substantial role in society.

Often times with this view of damage comes a difficulty of having access to proper resources, and this is not just limited to therapy and medication but also to employment opportunities, housing, and transportation. Sometimes things that are taken for granted are really not an option for those who might really need them. It is illegal for someone to be discriminated against for having a mental disorder but that does not mean that it does not happen. The prejudice and discrimination against those with mental disorders is still highly prevalent as is bullying and harassment.

The fear of stigmatization often keeps people from seeking the help that they may truly need. It makes it more difficult for people to admit that there may be something going on with them. There is still the belief that therapy is a “bad thing” filled with medication and a straight jacket which makes individuals not want to seek help. Self doubt and shame also play huge roles in individuals not wanting to seek help because they do not to be seen as damage or wrong. Many times an individual will feel isolated, and alone, and fear the rejection of their family and friends if they admit that something may be wrong with them.

The stigma of mental disorders is toxic. Painting those with mental disorders as crazy and/or dangerous does no one any good. Neither does the silence associated with both the mental disorders, and the stigmatization. It hurts the progress of medicine and therapy. It hurts the reality of what individuals with these disorders go through. Mental disorders are NOT something that can be controlled, and it is time to stop blaming those who suffer from them, and actually deal with the issue of stigmatization at hand.

One way to break down the barriers so to speak is through knowledge. Non-fiction books that break down mental disorders and explain them are usually highly beneficial. However in the same light they can often be non-relatable and perhaps even boring for some. This is where fiction novels come into play --- in particular young adult novels. Young adult novels are usually geared toward a specific audience --- an audience that is often struggling with a mountain of issues and concerns that may leave them feeling alone and unwanted --- and who may just be looking for another voice to tell them that they are not alone.

I think it is very important to have novels within the YA community that address both mental disorders as well as the stigmas that are attached them. YA novels have the power to open young eyes to unfamiliar topics such as mental disorders, and they can remove the silence of stigmatization in the process. By not being afraid to be often heartbreakingly real about things such as mental disorders, authors have the power to remove the characters that are just there for the stereotypical laugh, and instead provide characters who individuals can feel a connection with. They can help make them feel less alone, less unwanted, and show them that there are people out there who are willing to not judge them but help them.

YA authors can also break down the treatment of individuals with mental disorders and examine the stigmatization of those characters as well. For example, one of my favorite YA books from 2012 is Freaks Like Us by Susan Vaught. It tells the story of a young man who suffers from schizophrenia and what happens to him as he deals with the mystery of the disappearance of his best friend. There are so many serious issues brought to light regarding those who have mental disorders, and how they are treated within society. Things are discussed within the book include but are not limited to pre-conceived judgments, medication and treatment, lack of funding for school systems, the stress parents experience when raising a child with a mental disorder, bullying, abuse, and the stigma of mental disorders. I HIGHLY recommend this book to everyone.

It is important that the authors also educate themselves before attempting to educate and reach out to others. It was obvious to me from the very beginning that Susan Vaught had a history with mental disorders (she is also a clinical therapist), and had done her research in order to tell the story of Freaks Like Us. Writing a story without proper research and where there is blame placed on the character for their disorder is not going to be beneficial for anyone. It is not an individual’s fault that they have a mental disorder. It is also these types of stories where the stigmatization is continued instead of broken down, questioned and stopped. We do not need more of these types of stories.

We do however need more stories that break down the stigmatization of mental disorders. This would be not only helpful for those who may be struggling on their own in order to find a connection of sorts but it also opens eyes, and enables us to recognize our personal judgments and negative perceptions of those who are suffering from mental disorders. Books have so much power especially when being used to help and educate others and it more than time to address the stigma of mental disorders through them.

Let’s break down the barriers and change a mind about mental disorders!

Allison has her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the SUNY Oneonta, and her master’s degree in women’s studies from SUNY Albany. She is a co-blogger at Good Books and Good Wine.