As the world is facing a health crisis, more and more mental health cases are being reported. Thus, it becomes imperative for media to send a positive note to its audiences, since, it plays a pivotal role of the most effective platform in spreading messages. A leading fashion magazine is being criticised in the same context.
The Madness issue of the magazine featured a woman sitting with her hands folded in a bathtub, with two nurses pouring water on her from either side. The photograph seems to be showcasing a scene of the hospital. As soon as the magazine shared its digital print on the photo and video sharing platform, Instagram, netizens started calling out the publication for "glamourising mental health."
While one wrote, “This is glamourising mental health institutions and is insensitive and so so wrong.” “This is so so so so SO WRONG. On so many different levels. This cover is stigmatising mental health and looks like it’s referring to ‘female hysteria’, what is so misogynistic and we’re not living in the 16th century. Take this down,” said another user.
How Such Photographs Impact Mental Health
To many, such incidences or photos may not seem like a disturbing element, but this perhaps is not the case with people suffering from mental health. To know further about the impact of any such depiction, HZ spoke to a mental health expert, Prakriti Poddar, who is Director Poddar Wellness Ltd.
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"The story that appeared on the magazine’s cover was shared with me by many. When I saw the cover, I was extremely disturbed with the depiction of mental health in this archaic fashion. One in four people go through this, and as we know, this pandemic has aggravated the burden. In fact, one person in every home may be going through extreme anxiety, fear, or phobia. These sorts of visuals create a false impression of mental health and sends the sufferer into further silence,” explained Prakriti Poddar.
“This, as mentioned by others, really does seem like a mental hospital torcher chamber. It is important to note that only 2 per cent of people, who are suffering ill health may need carers to oversee their daily actions, including bath. Whereas, others do not need it,” she added.
Given the stature of the publication, people of different ages must have received confusing messages. They, who already feel alone due to the stigma surrounding mental health, wouldn’t have felt related to this snapshot. Such portrayal “alienates the rest of the people who are suffering, as they too can't relate to this picture of mental health illness, and therefore block themselves for seeking help,” explained Prakriti.
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We also got in touch with a few, who suffered and are still fighting clinical depression, to understand the impact of the magazine cover photo closely. A 19-year-old Delhi-based student told Hz, “I would call this image extremely dark. 2 years ago, when I was suffering from clinical depression, looking at photos like these used to make me feel hopeless.” Another mental health patient, who works as a sales manager in Noida said, “If I would have seen this picture 6 months ago, that is before I began my therapy, I would have thought it is okay to not smile and be in the depressed state that I was in. Unfortunately, the magazine's cover page is giving the same vibe and it is not healthy for anyone."
Tips From Mental Health Expert
Mental health is a serious and sensitive topic, and “mockery, such as this comes across as highly inappropriate. Yes, the model may have enjoyed it, but I don't think magazine, really thought about how it would look to its audience. According to me, since mental health is invisible and people can function fairly normally once they learn to cope,” said the mental health expert, Prakriti Poddar. She further gave a fewtips to cope up with mental health.
- Focus on the kind, empathic and healthy conversations. This will allow you to seek the right fraternity to uplift yourself.
- Be kind. This cover is NOT mental health. It draws folks away from seeking treatment. But, all of us in the field of mental health are here to help and elevate your life.
Following the incident, the publication issued an apology and clarified that the image was intended to "start a discussion". The fashion magazine also changed the cover, after realising that "the subject of mental health needs a more thoughtful approach". The company “has taken the decision to pull one of the four covers of our July/August issue, which depicts a scene of a psychiatric hospital as well as the inside cover story based around the topic of mental health,” read the Instagram post.
We “deeply apologises for any offence or upset caused by this photo shoot. On reflection, we realise that the subject of mental health needs a more thoughtful approach. We sincerely apologise for this,” added the post. Now, the company has shared a new cover image that showcases a person holding a human heart.
If you liked this article, do comment on our Facebook page. Stay tuned to HerZindagi to read articles on mental health.
Image Courtesy: Instagram (vogueportugal)
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