Several trending topics on election night were related to mental health and disorders including schizophrenia and bipolar. One came when Jesse Jackson, Jr., was reelected to congress. The democrat from Chicago won 63 percent of the vote in the Second Congressional District despite having been absent from work since June. Jackson is currently at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota seeking treatment for bipolar disorder. It is his second stay following a two-month stint there last summer.
On hearing news of his win the congressman released a statement through a spokesman saying, "Once the doctors approve my return to work, I will continue to be the progressive fighter you have known for years.” While his win may not be directly connected to his mental health issues, a loss for the candidate who previously won his seat by a large margin would have had some questioning whether it was his lengthy absence that put off voters or the reason behind it. The public understands medical issues like cancer or heart disease but has a harder time accepting mental illnesses due to a lack of understanding. The high-profile politician’s willingness to be open about his disorder and acknowledge that he is seeking help has been an educational opportunity for the public.
Another teachable moment came after seasoned reporter Tom Brokaw used the term “schizophrenic” to refer to some American voting patterns. Following a commercial break and several negative tweets on Twitter about his misuse of the word the newscaster apologized for his casual use of a clinical term and acknowledged that schizophrenia is a serious disorder before reframing his words using less offensive language.
The apology seemed to do the trick. The day after the election Tom Brokaw’s Facebook page had numerous posts that referred to the comment and the apology. Most were thanking him for making the gaffe right, and others were clarifying why they took offense at his misuse of the term.
It may seem like a small thing, but those who suffer from a mental illness are often as overwhelmed by the stigma surrounding it as they are by the symptoms. The American public still has a long way to go when it comes to understanding bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, posttraumatic stress disorder and depression. Fortunately the landscape seems to be changing as the media, medical professionals and those dealing with mental illness help to educate and inform.
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