Important: while I've done research, this post is far from perfect. I appreciate other commentary to help clear up any misinformation I may have given.850Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeznJGI0MU
Let's say that you have this character. He's seen someone he loves get murdered, dealt with a toxic relationship, and now keeps his distance from everyone, giving anyone who gets close a death glare, and broods about his terrible nightmares, yet never looks exhausted or sleep deprived. He's stated to be haunted by his loss and let's everyone know about it some way or another.850Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2eq1bLu9t
Or how about the female lead that lost her parents or has terrible (foster) parents, is put into the Chosen One role, is clumsy, has problems with focusing, confidence, and paying attention, but otherwise is super happy and bubbly, with no notable flaws? She may be described with an illness in her bio or the narration, but it's never shown or actually explored in the story, save for plot-convenient moments.
How about that boy who displays symptoms, but is displayed in either a dopey, comedic or crazy, angry way? Or that girl with a 'certain' condition that renders her with 'the mindset of a child'?850Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHMgjj1n4x
These are some ways I've heard characters get portrayed in terms of mental illnesses/conditions. None of them are positive.
Let's start at the beginning: what is a mental illness? Disorder? Condition?
People who are diagnosed with Mental Illnesses and Disorders experience psychological symptoms that are detrimental to their overall health - their life is in disorder.
Mental Illnesses are problems that people develop, but can be cured.
Mental Disorders can develop, but can't be cured. The person must learn to manage the symptoms, sometimes with the help of therapy or medication.
Mental Conditions are people who are born with a non-neurotypical mindset. Personally, I prefer to refer to all neurotypical/divergent as a condition, because it takes away the negative stigma that 'ill' and 'disabled' can give, but to each their own.
Some ways in which mentally conditioned people are portrayed in stories:
~They are the Token Mentally Ill/Lunatic, in which their condition is they only major aspect to them. They show this by appearing dumb, childish, emotive, or unempathetic. Their condition's name is never given and otherwise seen as Generically Ill.850Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0bUobUvJC
~They are the villain/antagonist, or otherwise are violently unstable or amoral because of their condition.
~If they are a hero/protagonist, their arc will always be about their condition.
~Use conditions as descriptors or flaws that must be overcome.
~Designated Victim, load, or a walking disaster area.
~Their Condition is actually a super power or otherwise and form of spiritual enlightenment.
~The focus on the mental condition is only through the viewpoint of other people and how they're affected.
~The Tragic Character who is designed to bring pity from the audience and show who the good and bad people are by how they get treated.
~Traits are cherry-picked and romanticized.
~Their condition is cured at the end of the story through the power or friendship or love.
What would be better:
~Have more than one person with the condition, with different levels of symptoms.850Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTk4zqLtnQ5
~Have more than one type of condition amount the cast.
~Have someone who shows more than one condition.
~Their condition explains some of their behaviour, but it does not excuse it.
~If they are a Villain/antagonist, don't use their condition as a reason for their alignment. Or better yet, don't give the villain a condition, or at least be the only one who has a condition. It's more common for non-conditioned people to act violently than conditioned people.850Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2dfG8XQIB
~If they're the Hero/protagonist, give them a genuine arc. Their condition will obviously affect their path, but it shouldn't always be their main battle.850Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQsr6rFAfL
~Give them morals and rationality, even if they aren't the same as the majority's.
~As stated, there's a reason why they're called mental disorders and illnesses. They distrupt a person's life. That doesn't mean that there aren't advantages or comedic events regarding a condition.
~Don't just show the symptoms/episodes when it's plot convenient.
~If the symptoms are bad enough, have them get professional help or find healthy outlets to cope.
Some extra notes:
~People who are conditioned will usually hide it and act normal to varying degrees of success.
~Some may have internalized ableism and will try to compensate or deny their diagnosis.
~Not everyone gets help or even seeks it, for a variety of reasons.
~Conditions are characterized by several traits, not a prominent one. For example, people who are Schizophrenic don't just experience hallucinations, but paranoia, speech difficulties, and cognition issues. There's also several subsets and a Schizo Spectrum.
~Panic Attacks are not romantic or beautiful. Someone who gets panic attacks and finds ways to cope with them, however, is.
~People can have a personality that resembles a condition, but not be diagnosed, as it doesn't cause distress in their life. Someone can be moody but not Bipolar.
~Conditions are viewed differently: ADD, ADHD, and Autism are becoming normalized, albeit infantisized. Depression and Anxiety are well-known. Schizophrenia, DID Alters, and Psychopaths are viewed as violent monsters. People who are Bipolar or OCD are seen as overly emotional. No one even knows what Schizoid Personality Disorder is.
That's all for now.
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