Is mental illness funny?

A THOUGHT-provoking video - do you think it makes a valid point?

Comments

[Ian]

I actually believe any subject is fair game for ridicule. Which may be why I am going to hell. Making inappropriate jokes about illness can be funny to some, and offensive to others. But even when it is offensive it raises awareness, and gets discussion, such as this, going.

[Frances Weston]

Absolutely it does! Mental illness is one of the few illnesses whose sufferers are criticised and made fun of in ways people wouldn't dream of speaking about people with physical ill health. Why is this? What's funny about someone who is so confused or desperate that they are struggling to function? What kind of person laughs at, or criticises, a fellow human being's symptoms of distress? Somehow this stigma has become deeply rooted, with sufferers being judged for something that is not their fault, and anything that can be done to challenge peoples' misconceptions in the way this video does, is to be applauded. Thank you, Linda, for posting this.

[Leah Witmond]

I loved this video, Linda. as it makes a very valid point, and does so in a very clear way.

There's just no getting around the fact: People love making fun at the expense of the mentally ill. After all, these people are just crazy and don't deserve any better, do they?

Well, actualy, yes they do deserve better. They are human beings, with feelings that can be hurt the same as anyone else's. They're not loony, bats, nuts or whatever name seems "appropriate". They are suffering. And they might die of their illness.

What's the difference with cancer, really?

It's this: those afflicted with a physical condition get sympathy and understanding, whereas the mentally ill have to deal with discrimination and abuse. That just doesn't seem fair to me.

Thanks for posting this video, Linda.

[Lyn]

In the privacy of my own home, with those who I know share my sense of humour and when it's appropriate, I'm probably going to hell with Ian. I think humour is good and when my mum had cancer I spent a lot of my time coming up with dark jokes to make her laugh about it and she did the same - BUT dark humour played a massive part in my upbringing so (at times) it was appropriate.

I'm always careful who I use that humour with and wait to follow others people's lead because it can be hurtful to quite a lot of people, but I refuse to abandon it entirely because it's liberating for others who use it to find relief and perspective.

I was recently introduced to a new term by a friend who happens to have schizophrenia when they used the description 'mad as a bag of frogs'. We both had a laugh but the important thing is we were laughing together. My friend's schizophrenia is part of who they are - they'd be a different person without it, so I embrace it and for me, that means not being scared to have a laugh at life's difficulties - whatever they are.

[Livi]

Very interesting and an excellent point.
I know that I'm guilty of using words like "crazy" in relation to my own illness, mainly because it sounds less scary to me that way. I always feel a bit bad about it now though because it is encouraging the stigma that surrounds it. Sometimes it's good to laugh about it, as I said it makes it less scary, and let's face it, sometimes if we didn't laugh, we'd cry.

[Dolly Sen]

I agree with Lyn, it depends on the context. I think for the most part humour based on ridicule and ignorance on the part of the 'normal' general public is spurious, but amongst friends and people who have gone through mental distress, and people who read my blog, I use humour to challenge stigma and yes, to make light of being human, which my madness is a part of. I have always said that being human is an absurd and ridiculous career.

[Leah Witmond]

I agree with you on the dark humour part, Lyn. In the privacy of home, when I'm with my family, relatives or close friends who share my dark sense of humour, it can be great, and you can use it without adding to the stigma.

But it'd be different if I would start making fun of the girl I saw in town the other day, as she shuffeled down the street, obvioulsy off in a world of her own. That's just no laughing matter.

[Dave Neenhan]

People use terms like crazy , loony , mad , etc. to describe a whole range of human behaviour and people and to pretend these terms are just used to specifically victimise diagnosed mental health sufferers is crazy. I have been using mental health services for years and no-one has ever assailed me with any of these terms nor has it happened to any of the other people I know with a diagnosis because we've discussed this discrimination we're supposed to be facing from the general public and it seems to be being talked up to give a sort of politically correct type power to censor everyone else.

Look, those people in the video would use the terms they quote to describe people doing a whole heap of whacky stuff but 9 times out of 10 the action and person described would have nothing to do with mental illness.

And people do use terms around cancer in the same way, you know ' the mafia is the cancer of society ', ' drug dealers have a cancerous hold on the community etc, and that doesn't bother cancer patients any more than other people using terms like crazy or insane to describe dumb, reckless or amazing behaviour bothers me. Get a grip .

[Linda]

Thanks everyone for replying.
@ian I think this is more about day to day language used to describe people who are ill in a specific way as opposed to someone trying to make a joke of it per se, not sure how much of a distinction there is, but that was how I understood it.

@dave - I didn't think that was what the video was talking about, (general languiage to discuss behaviour as you describe it) I just thought it was making the point that when talking about people with mental illness, more thought may be needed, not an attempt to censor anyone but to just try and influence some more thought and understanding. That was how I saw it. Most of the commenters here have been diagnosed with a mental health condition and it does bother them so fair enough to highlight it.

[Ugg Classic Mini]

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