Making a Scene: Mental Health Through the Lens of Theater
Most media portrays people with mental health issues in an unflinchingly unfavorable manner. Mental illness is stigmatized. On the news and on television, we frequently witness people with mental illnesses commit violent acts and injure others. It is true that persons with mental diseases may find it difficult to be understood by others owing to stigmas and taboos surrounding mental health. They may be seen as terrible individuals, if not outright wicked, by the general public because of their conduct.
Theatrical productions, on the other hand, bring persons with mental illnesses into the spotlight. There’s a kinder, more optimistic perspective that restores humanity to those with mental illness. They can be identified as ordinary humans by the audience.
In theater, stories are frequently portrayed from the perspective of the individual suffering from mental illness. We witness how other characters act, and we go through what they go through. The spectator has a better understanding of the mentally ill character’s personality and thinking process as a result of this close glimpse into their lives and the way they think.
Empathy, acceptance, and kindness may be fostered by following the journey of a character who is mentally ill and witnessing how the mental disease manifests in an individual.
People regularly observe how the mentally ill are mistreated by the general populace, but may not care much for it. In theater, however, one is able to see more closely and be more personally affected as a result.. The audience witnesses the contrast of identity and stigma through the observational outlook.
Of course, there are benefits and drawbacks to putting mental illness on stage. Some professionals are working to remove stigmas and increase representation for these people.
Deviating from the mentally ill violent character stereotype is one way theater distinguishes itself from popular media — forsaking pop culture representations of mentally ill individuals in media to adopt an empathy-based approach improves people’s perceptions of mental illness.
Raising awareness and fostering knowledge are two excellent ways to influence society attitudes and ideas. But, theater has a far smaller audience than the media, tv, and films. Even if progress is made in theater, most individuals are unlikely to notice it. When no one is listening, it might be tough to get your point across.
Even when people listen, they frequently dismiss it as a theatrical performance rather than the true story of someone’s life. Far more attention should be paid to mental illness.
Theater allows for people to tell their stories. Some may convey their own experiences on stage, diverse identities can find representation and feel less alone in their struggles, and everyone can comprehend what people who are different from them are going through. Change requires awareness; without it, no progress can be made in any direction.
With more knowledge, more investigations and treatments for these conditions will emerge.