Helpful vs. Harmful
Give a specific example of a harmful media message.
What I Eat in a Day" videos,
AI Facebook posts spreading misinformation,
“shut up and dribble,”
movies that portray people with mental illness as dangerous.
Why is saying: “just snap out of it” harmful?
People with a mental illness cannot “snap out” of their mental illness
What is the danger of a single story?
One incomplete story that oversimplifies a person, group, or issue.
What is stigma?
When someone is seen negatively because of a trait or behavior.
What is a systemic barrier?
Rules, policies, practices that disadvantage certain groups (even if not intentionally discriminatory). Systemic barriers create obstacles beyond an individual fix.
Pro athletes launched the “Love, Your Mind” playlist. Give 2 resources they provide.
Take a time out
Hype playlist
Tag in a teammate
Stress management tips
Self-care strategies
Mental health walks
Athlete stories about mental health
Information about where to get help
Why is saying “I’m so OCD about this” misleading?
It treats a real mental illness like a personality trait or joke and creates misunderstandings about what OCD actually is.
Give 2 examples of single stories from media examples shown in class.
“People with mental illness are dangerous,” “boys shouldn’t show emotions,” “teens are just dramatic,” or “therapy is useless.”
Why might someone hide their mental health struggles even when they need support? Give 2 reasons.
Fear of judgment, embarrassment, stereotypes, family expectations, or discrimination.
How can the cost of therapy be a systemic barrier?
Therapy can be expensive, preventing many individuals and families from accessing mental health care and support.
Burger King's "Real Meals" campaign showed people aren’t happy all the time. Why was this considered a helpful message?
It acknowledged that people experience a full range of emotions and that being unhappy sometimes is normal.
A classmate doesn’t have the words to express how she’s feeling and doesn’t know how to get help. Give a supportive response.
“I’m here to listen. You don’t have to figure it out alone. We can talk to a trusted adult together if you want.”
During class, we discussed the harmful message that people with mental illness are dangerous. Why is this a single story?
It focuses on an inaccurate idea and ignores the reality that most people with mental illness are not violent.
Give one example of how stigma might show up at school.
Making jokes about mental illness, calling someone “crazy” or “dramatic,” telling someone to “just get over it,” or assuming a struggling student is lazy.
How can insurance be a systemic barrier?
Without insurance, or with limited mental health coverage, therapy and treatment may be too expensive to access.
GymShark launched a Pop-Up Barbershop campaign. What was their goal?
For men to talk about their mental health
Break the stigma
A classmate stops showing up to activities they used to love and says, “I just don’t care anymore.” Give a supportive response.
Struggling.
Supportive response: “I’m really sorry you’re feeling this way. You don’t have to go through it alone - want to talk or walk with me to a trusted adult?”
What do these characters portray about mental illness?
- Euphoria, Shrinking, This is Us, Ginny and Georgia, Waves
They portray mental illness as complex and realistic.
They show how mental illness can affect emotions, relationships, daily functioning, coping skills, recovery, and different areas of life.
How did stigma take place in Good Will Hunting?
Will avoided opening up about his trauma and initially resisted therapy because of fear, shame, and mistrust.
These attitudes made it harder for him to seek and accept help.
What systemic barriers were present in Good Will Hunting?
Poverty, untreated childhood trauma, limited access to mental health support, and a lack of stable support systems made it harder for Will to get help.
How can media messages be both harmful and helpful?
They can raise awareness and encourage people to seek help, but they can also spread stereotypes, misinformation, or unrealistic expectations.
A student regularly falls asleep in class. Teachers assume they are lazy. What language in this story might be missing?
The single story is that Noah doesn't care.
What's ignored is his housing instability, lack of sleep, disrupted routine, and bipolar disorder.
Why are mental health and mental illness portrayals in TV/movies important? Give 3 reasons.
They shape how people understand mental illness, can reduce or reinforce stigma, and influence whether people feel comfortable seeking help.
Explain how stigma and systemic barriers can work together to prevent someone from getting help.
Stigma may make someone afraid to ask for help, while systemic barriers such as cost, transportation, or insurance make support harder to access.
How do systemic barriers impact our society?
They create unequal access to resources and opportunities, making it harder for some people to get mental health care, housing, education, and other forms of support.