Internet, we need to have a talk.
I’ve had a number of readers ask why I’ve neglected to write about Amanda Bynes this last year. It’s simple, really. I don’t believe that celebrities are “fair game,” and that, when they have very human and very difficult struggles, I should capitalize on those things by writing an article, however well-intentioned. I believe they are deserving of privacy and respect, by virtue of their being people.
However, I’m making an exception here, because in the midst of the negative and callous press that Bynes has received, I think it’s time we had a chat about it from a different perspective. And then, after we’re done, I think it’s time we stop speculating about it altogether. Deal?
First and foremost, there is no way for us to know what, if anything, Bynes has been diagnosed with. The family has denied schizophrenia and bipolar diagnoses. And when I write this article about Bynes, I am only operating on the possibility – not the assumption – that these diagnoses are true.
Until Amanda Bynes comes out and self-identifies this way, it is not our place to make an assumption about her mental state. Most of us are not psychiatrists, and even if we were, none of us can make a diagnosis based on a Twitter feed. And it is Bynes’ prerogative to keep certain aspects of her life, including her health care, private.
For the sake of argument, we’re going to roll with the possibility, not the assumption, that Bynes may have bipolar and schizophrenia.
And on that note, I’m going to offer you a sobering statistic:
People with co-occurring bipolar and schizophrenia have one of the highest suicide attempt rates of any group. 70.6% of these individuals will attempt suicide in their lifetime.
You would think this would frighten us, and that we would be offering Bynes compassion on the mere basis that what she may be facing is, without a doubt, deadly.
Yet the vast majority of press and articles surrounding Bynes’ mental state seems to ignore the stark reality of her struggle, and instead, opt to mock her erratic and unusual behavior. Rather than recognizing that she may have an illness, they have turned mental illness into a spectacle to watch, enjoy, and ridicule.
We, as a culture, are alarmingly desensitized to the seriousness of mental illness, particularly when it affects celebrities. Whenever a famous person has a “breakdown,” or goes off to rehab, there is always a sensationalized headline and a gawking that we collectively do. We treat it like a performance to consume and be shocked by, to laugh at, to enjoy.
We have made mental illness into a form of entertainment, and this is reflected in the articles that have been written about Amanda Bynes as of late.
If no one has explained this to you, let me be the first to say that it is morally repugnant that we, as a society, are mocking mentally ill people.
If it is indeed true that Amanda Bynes has both bipolar and schizophrenia, she faces an uphill battle. These are both diseases with high mortality rates, and devastating symptoms that are difficult to treat. And while she faces these illnesses, the entire world is watching. To have the audacity of laughing and poking fun as she struggles with these painful disorders is truly disgusting.
It’s all fun and games until someone dies, as was the case with Robin Williams. When celebrities have very public “breakdowns,” we find them entertaining, sensational, intriguing. When celebrities die from these illnesses, however, we grieve for them, celebrate their lives, and profess our sympathy for their struggle.
Amanda Bynes may be battling two illnesses that could very easily kill her. Why is she not receiving the same level of respect, tact, and compassion that we afford those who have already died at the hands of these same illnesses?
Are we only deserving of dignity and respect if we die?
Does Amanda Bynes need to die by suicide before we will start valuing her life? How fucked up is that?
No matter what Bynes posts on twitter, or what wigs she wears, what we need to understand as outsiders is that something very difficult and frightening is happening to Amanda Bynes — and it is irresponsible to talk about it any other way, whether it’s to poke fun at it, or reduce it to her being “crazy.” In either scenario, it diminishes her personhood.
Why this reminder needs to happen is beyond me, but apparently it does: Bynes needs compassion, not ridicule, not laughter. Her struggles, whatever they may be, do not exist for your enjoyment.
Anyone who thinks an involuntary psychiatric hold is fun or amusing is horribly misguided. Anyone who thinks psychosis or paranoia is a walk in the park has clearly never been there. Anyone who thinks schizophrenia or bipolar is hilarious has never had their life devastated by these disorders.
I have. And I can tell you – there’s no pain on earth quite like it.
Anyone who has forgotten that Amanda Bynes is a human being first and foremost needs to step back, and do some serious soul-searching.
Any journalist or columnist who thinks Bynes’ behavior is great material for a lighthearted article needs to reexamine their motivations, and decide for themselves what kind of writer they want to be. Someone who profits off of someone’s pain? Or someone with integrity?
As someone with bipolar disorder, I want to offer a reminder to those who do not suffer from the disorder that making a mockery out of our struggle is dehumanizing. This should go without saying, but apparently it must be said: Mental illness is not a joke. Mental illness is not funny. Mental illness does not exist to amuse you.
If Amanda Bynes has taught us anything, it’s that mental illness can, in fact, touch anyone. It exists in every community, every city, every race, every social class, every gender. Celebrities are not immune to these devastating disorders. In fact, 13.6 million Americans live with a serious mental illness, and if Amanda Bynes is among them, she will need support and compassion to get through it.
What message are we sending, as journalists, bloggers, and writers, if we treat mental illness with the same brevity and amusement as writing about Kim Kardashian’s ass?
Did you cry when Robin Williams died, but laugh when Amanda Bynes was taken to the hospital? Why is that? I’m challenging you to really think about the ways that we treat folks with mental illness.
When we make these disorders into a joke, we become complicit in creating a culture where mentally ill people are taught to feel ashamed, isolated, and broken. And when we uphold that stigma instead of challenging it, it’s not surprising that so many people with these illnesses opt to take their own lives.
We need to do better. Not just for Amanda Bynes, but for all the people worldwide who suffer from these disorders.
It’s not a spectacle. It’s a goddamn illness.
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UPDATE (10/20/14): Due to the confusion surrounding the title, the article has been renamed from “It’s All Fun and Games Until Someone Dies: Amanda Bynes, Robin Williams, and the Spectacle of Mental Illness,” to omit the first portion. The intent of the original title was to compare and contrast the treatment of celebrities before and after they die — never to suggest that Bynes had passed away.
UPDATE (10/22/14): A new article has been written in response to this piece going viral.
UPDATE (11/9/14): Commenters have pointed out that co-occurring bipolar and schizophrenia is commonly referred to as “schizoaffective disorder.”
UPDATE (11/14/14): There is now an animated version of this article!
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As of 11/15, comments have been disabled on this article.
588 responses
I hope this article goes viral because it is amazing. I always think about this kind of stuff, and finally someone has posted such an inspiring article describing how I feel better than I ever could! Thank you. You rock!
Thank you for writing this! This SO needed to be written!
You’ve articulated the line between (1) unfairly picking a person who may well be suffering from mental illness and (2) snarky, fun gossip by an over-entitled, badly behaved but likely NOT mentally ill celebrity – one similar to Lainey Liu’s “sad smut”:
http://www.laineygossip.com/Lindsay-Lohan—The-Line-Between-Smut-and-Sad/6678
The only silver lining from media reporting on Amanda’s possible mental illnesses is that at least it’s being talked about. Mental illness has been such a taboo subject that at least people feel like it can be discussed. Hopefully, some people might actually become educated about illnesses.
Exceptional article. Empathy and humanity are sadly lacking in our world. I challenge each of you reading this, to be self aware when standing in judgment of another. Then question yourself as to what that has brought to you. Try empathy and understanding.
Reblogged this on shelbyrallen and commented:
Powerful, and very true, words. Mental illness needs to always been taken with serious and compassionate respect. This is NSFW, but I encourage the read because it is very touching.
I completely agree and respect you for standing up!
THANK YOU for this beautifully written article. Our society is becoming one big bully. Our society is becoming one horrible “mean girl”. Thank you for bringing this to light. I hope that more journalists will act with courage and compassion like you’ve done here.
Thank you, for this article! I’m a Psychology major, and I have friends who do take such disorders very lightly, and laugh at some of the manifested symptoms. I try to tell them it’s not something to joke about, but they generally dismiss me as being too dedicated to my future profession. Thank you for this. I’m going to make them read this the next time we have such a discussion.
Reblogged this on bagabagaboo and commented:
Great article- never understood how people could become so desensitized to others’ pain and suffering.
It really is an amazing article. It almost brought me to tears.
I would agree with you except Amanda Bynes has NOT come out saying she has a mental illness. So instead of assuming she does (Which is belittling it by saying anyone who is crazy has schizophrenia or Bipolar disorder) we have to for with what we most recently KNOW to be true. That she is a perfectly healthy individual acting like an idiot for no apparent reason. And as people often do we find idiocy hilarious. If she has a mental illness then that leaves room for leeway but as far as we know she doesn’t so it’s stupid to rant and rave and assume she does even though you stated against it.
Tia – Obviously there is something wrong; what does it matter the title of the illness. If this were a family member of yours and they were acting like this for “no apparent reason” would be okay for everyone to make fun if them. Wouldn’t you prefer a little help and some sympathy. I pretty sure healthy people don’t act that way!
The author of this article did not at all assume Amanda Bynes has any mental illnesses. She specifically stated “I am only operating on the possibility – not the assumption –” twice in fact. Everything written was on the basis of IF she did have mental illnesses, why do we treat her like a spectacle?
I have addressed this a couple of times, but I will do so again: Amanda Bynes is being held on an involuntary psychiatric hold, and is having a conservatorship put in place as she is considered “gravely disabled.” From a legal standpoint, none of these things are possible without there being a mental health issue at play. Simply put, you have no legal grounds to put a conservator or psychiatric hold in place unless there is a psychiatric issue. This is not baseless speculation — these are reasonable conclusions based on the legality of her situation.
Nonetheless, I directly stated that I operated on the possibility, not the assumption.
I think you have missed the point of the article, which is to bring attention to the callous way we are treating another vulnerable human being. I recommend you reread it and take some time to reflect before commenting again.
Respectfully, SDF
uhm in my small experience, people who are suffering mental illness have no idea that how they are acting or thinking is unusual. People with mental illness don’t “come out” … it’s not like diabetes or cancer or a broken leg. I truly don’t think she is a perfectly healthy individual acting like an idiot. I think perhaps you have never had the challenge of someone you care about suffering from mental illness. In my experience with friends who have had various illnesses from psychotic depression to schizophrenia, the common theme is that they think they are fine. Even after treatment they have a hard time understanding what has happened. When you see a “perfectly healthy individual acting like an idiot for no apparent reason” there is probably a reason….
Why do you expect the person with the illness to “come out saying” they are ill? Perhaps as the article states so well, it is none of our business! Saying she is “crazy” based solely on Twitter and other media reports gives you and your remarks absolutely no credibility whatsoever. And to say “people often find …. Idiocy hilarious” is nothing to be proud of. This article was directed specifically to people like you. I suggest you re-read it.
Wow…..you really are something…..did you read the article right through?
Thank you so much for this sensitive point of view. It has really boggled my mind to see Amanda’s unusual behavior reported on in the same way as, say, Miley Cyrus’s costumes and twerking. Maybe people have stopped being able to see the difference. Robin Williams death seemed to shock everyone in particular because it revealed that there was a real human being behind a lot of funny characters we’ve enjoyed. But why should his humanity be a shock? Every single person is going through something.
I’ve been told… that Everyone is Bipolar many many times! Bipolar Disorder is something i know and UNDERSTAND, why or even why not… I’ve just been told also, that I FLAUNT the fact that i have Mental Illness. Which is true because in fact it is something that haunts me everyday but being Bipolar and Schizophrenic is surprisingly something i’ve grown to LOVE, Because i have gone through so much personal shit i have learned to be a stronger and a BRIGHTER BRIGHTER person. You and I share something though, within myself i know that at times the ideas of someone else having a mental disorder is some sort of joke to laugh upon. sometimes we catch ourselves laughing at the sad poor side of reality without the sence that we are.Why do we look at someone going through hell? because of our own hell… I’ll flaunt the truth!
I follow Amanda Bynes on twitter and at first it was because i wanted to see her in her flaws, “but thats something that i know is in the part of me”
“which has no idea”
“the one asking WHY?…”
its tough being aware of myself and my delusions. in this spot. something that me and Amanda Bynes share is Mental Illiness and it is not funny it is terrible that because of our unique and personal MINDS we are not like you or your BIPOLAR Mood swings, we’re FIGHTERS! FOR OUR LIVES! But like you who also fights for your lives
“just not in the same tone of voice or conversation. which is to the T why we are who we are.”
Thank you for writing this i feel better about my own issues and appreciate your veiws on mental illness.
I lost a friend in college to mental illness. It seemed to creep up very quickly; she transformed from a vibrant, funny, engaged person to a shell of herself, one of the walking wounded, in a matter of months. It was awful, and the spectacle of gawking that accompanies something like what Bynes appears to be going through has always made me a little ill for that reason. Thanks for this article.
As some who has to deal with extreme bipolar disorder running rampant through my family, and some one that has met and spent more then a few hours with Bynes, I have to tell you she is a wonderful person. Very kind and thankful, even with us little people. I am greatly saddened by her situation and can sympathize with her family and friends. This is not an easy thing to overcome, nor should it be made fun of. We take a stand against bullies in schools, why not take a stand against real life bullies, i.e… media and onlookers. What ever her diagnosis is I hope that she has all of the support she needs. This is a tough road to go down, and I speak from experience. Thank you!
Though I am unable to reply to every comment individually, I did want to say this:
I am blown away by the sheer number of views, comments, and heartfelt messages that have been sent my way in response to the Amanda Bynes piece.
I am especially in awe of the courage that so many of you have demonstrated by sharing your stories in comments, emails, and posts. It is not easy to reveal your struggles, whatever they may be, especially when those struggles are so deeply stigmatized around the world.
But your strength — and your commitment to stand in opposition to this stigma — assures me that, given time, we will make waves. Our collective voices will be heard around the world, undeniably true and beautiful and unique.
And even if we cannot change every heart and every mind, by simply being visible, we assure those who share our struggles that they are not alone.
If I’ve learned anything from this article going viral, it’s that I am, without a doubt, never alone. And I hope that my words have assured you that neither are you.
thank you for this article. xo
World Health Organization (WHO) states that by 2025 mental illness will be the second leading cause of illness, after heart disease. We as a community need to have a more keen eye to those in need, not everything is as transparent as heart diease.
Leading cause of death I assume you meant? Just wanting to be sure because if that’s true that’s a pretty interesting and terrifying statistic.
I know this isn’t going to be popular, but the reason people cried for Williams, and laughed at Bynes is because Williams earned their respect and admiration over the years, making his fans sad when they realized he did all this overcoming his disease. Bynes on the other hand has been living the “wealthy” lifestyle expected of hollywood stars and has constantly disappointed her fans. Thus there is this feeling of “karma” when she is afflicted. I don’t think this reaction is warranted, but I think it might be too much to expect them to feel the same level of compassion. Rather, they should let it go and not make a joke out of it, but they don’t have to care just because the two may have had similar diseases.
I disagree. Amanda Bynes filled my childhood with laughter. Her whole career made me laugh! Just like how Williams may have had the same effect on others (including myself). To bring wealth into this is redicule. Not one person in this world is perfect. Yeah, she may have more eyes on her than the rest of us, but the possibility of having a mental illness does not help make satisfying her fans much easier. I can’t be disappointed in her more than being disappointed in any other actor with their own personal problems. Imagine having your struggles being on the front cover of a magazine. Is that comforting? Would it resolve a mental illness? I hope for the best for Bynes, and so should others. Generations may have different views regarding this. She’ll always be a childhood star to me, and I’ll never forget her humor.
I disagree completely. If she ( or any representative of her ) would state even the possibility of mental disease being involved in her behavior, then I would agree with you. But everyone in her camp has completely denied any possibility of that being the case. And comparing Amanda Bynes to Robin Williams is like Kanye West comparing himself to Jesus, it’s just stupid. Shame on you for trying to excuse her behavior by saying she MIGHT have a mental disease.
In order for someone, legally speaking, to be held on an involuntary psychiatric hold, as she currently is, she must be considered a risk to herself, a risk to others, or gravely disabled. It has been released numerous times that she is being held on the grounds that she is “gravely disabled.”
This being the case, it’s not unreasonable to suspect that Amanda Bynes’ mental health is suffering. You simply cannot hold someone, nor gain conservatorship over someone, without there being some kind of mental health issue at play. It’s not, by law, possible otherwise.
I would highly recommend you familiarize yourself with the legal issues surrounding her psychiatric hold before you vent your frustrations on the internet.
Respectfully, SDF
and familiarize themselves with mental illness. There are many forms, some of which , like psychotic depression, are relatively “easy” to cure and don’t need life long medication. I’ve only begun to understand a portion of it after having family and friends go through various forms of mental illness, but it sickens me to see people with no experience, compassion or understanding commenting on this illness with so little understanding that this is not something that is put on. For those who have experienced it first or second hand, it is so obvious what is happening to Amanda Bynes, just like Britney before her. Mental illness affects so many people and it’s not a surprise that we have celebrity victims. What surprises me (well, not really) is how the paparazzi and media and, in turn, I suppose fans and followers of entertainment news, are happy to think this is a freak show and something that should be followed like a gossip story rather than something that should be referred to public health professionals. Support her and her family by doing something positive. I can’t believe people follow her around and photograph her at her most ill just to make a few bucks. sick.
Along with not assuming someone has a mental illness I would also refrain from using the terms/phrases: co-morbid and committed suicide.
Each phrase/term has negative connotations that often perpetuate the stigma surrounding mental health and illness. Co-morbid sounds as if the person is dying from this disease, that there is nothing they can do to stop it or it will end their life. While the life expectancy of those with a mental illness is typically lower (anywhere from 10-20 years lower) we cannot be sure what came first: the feeling of morbidity associated with a mental illness or the expectation that mental illness leads to death. We also say that someone committed suicide, murders are committed, “crazy people” are committed to asylums, for now when we say committed and suicide we mean to say deviance and weakness.
I prefer to say co-occurring, two or more things happening at once, and that this human being has died by suicide. Both statements are true (two illness happening at once and someone passing away) and neither, as far as I am aware, are rooted in a dark stigmatizing history.
I thank you for this wonderful article that exposes how we think of mental health and illness and I encourage more like it. I mean no offense, only to educate.
Thanks for the feedback! I’ll be editing those terms where they appear. It’s always great to get a dose of perspective, as I am by no means an authority on all things mental health.
I really hope people read this and understand. Mental illness is a silent killer. I just recently lost my little brother to depression. Everyday without him is a battle. There is not enough information out there about mental illness. I don’t see why people laugh when a person is suffering but once they are gone, we cry. I agree that this artical is very good and I sure hope it goes viral. This could help a lot of people understand the daily battle someone with bipolar, depression etc goes through.
My daughter is suffering from of mental health problems we are yet to get a diagnosis,people are ignorant to mental health,i feel it’s because the illness is not visible x
Reblogged this on adifferentlifebeinglived and commented:
Great read.
I agree. Your point is correct. Illness are hard to understand. Even us standing sane today can fall.
Bravo. Just bravo.
[…] ‘The Spectacle of Mental Illness‘ from Let’s Queer Things […]
thank you!! i also suffer from these horrible diseases,and yes it is the worst struggle some days,and i have also been made fun of,all my life,it hurts,some people have no idea what its like to live day to day never knowing what mood swing or anxiety attack is gonna happen next,for me sometimes (if you have ever done acid) its like being on a very bad bad trip! i get bug crawling affects on me and fearful moments where i feel like i am gonna die,i hear sounds when my anxiety gets high,and my skin gets painful to even touch,and i get afraid of people ,i can’t even put sentences together when my attacks happen,i am a mother,i have 3 beautiful kids who have seen me go through so much hell,but they are supportive at least i know my kids will grow up with understanding,and compassion for mental illness,if amanda is suffering i hope she gets the help she will need,and i hope she has support,and if she isn’t suffering from mental illness then i hope she is ok in whatever is going on,really people should not judge after all we have not walked in her shoes
I think it’s weird how much this article focused specifically on bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
1. How often do people have both, and why would she?
2. There is a multitude of other mental illnesses that could cause erratic behavior.
3. It misses the point by assuming we need a qualifier in order to have compassion for somebody.
Mental illness or not, Amanda Bynes is not behaving in a way that happy, well-adjusted people do, and she is not performing a comedy act. That alone means we should not be laughing at her.
Your article is correct and makes great points, but I think it needs to go a step further and ditch the whole “let’s assume she has bipolar and schizophrenia disorders.”
No, let’s not assume that, because why? It doesn’t matter what she has. People without mental illnesses kill themselves and deserve compassion as well.
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!! I have been following this and have been utterly blown away by the way she has been treated by the media. She is clearly ill. If I had to guess I would say it is probably schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is so misunderstood. It really bothers me that she is being made fun of when she is obviously going through a very, very public episode. Why is it alright to make fun of her when you would never make fun of someone with Depression or Down Syndrome? It is so wrong on so many levels and I cannot thank you enough for this article. I have been waiting for someone, anyone to write something about this and finally – you did!!!!!
I agree with this entirely. This is also what I said about Charlie Sheen back when his erratic behavior was the big public joke. Doesn’t matter what we do or do not know, it’s beyond tacky to ignore the possibility that someone is in pain and possible danger. They may not know themselves.
Reblogged this on I ate this today and commented:
“If you cried about Robin Williams and you’re laughing about Amanda Bynes, check yourself. Mental illness isn’t a spectator sport.” –
exactly!!!
i had to share your writing!!!!
Thank you. I hope people will sit up, take notice.
Robin Williams was a well respected actor/comedian before he died. I would say that his history with substance abuse & depression was actually not that heavily publicized whilst he was alive, especially in comparison to a lot of other people in the public eye. No one predicted his suicide probably because of that.
I’m pointing this out because I think people were shocked & “cried” when he died because we didn’t see constant erratic behavior from him (well, maybe we did when he was performing) but lets just say no one saw him rocking up to court hearings wearing a long blonde wig.
This was a well written article, but I found it a bit contradictory & preachy – So we can’t assume that someone is mentally ill because of how they behave, but we shouldn’t laugh at them based on how they are behaving because they are most likely mentally ill?
I saw a guy on the news a few months ago who went to court wearing a clown costume. Just an ordinary guy, dressed as a clown, not famous at all. Did I find this amusing? – Yep. I think that kind of stuff is fun to see & I did not jump to the conclusion that this guy was unwell in the head. I just laughed because that’s just a plain funny thing to do.
You say mental illness & rehab is no joke, I completely agree. But like you said yourself, the public can’t make a diagnosis of someone based on their odd behaviors. So how can we really know if we are joking about someone who is ‘acting’ crazy or someone who is, indeed, crazy? – & please don’t tell me that just to be safe we should never laugh at anyone or anything funny ever again.
I think you’ll find that most people who make light of a celebrity’s ‘crazy’ antics, don’t actually think that celebrity is genuinely crazy.
I suffer from anxiety & depression myself, but I think this article was borderline wankfest. Peace.
The author was talking about Bynes having a mental illness because she is on a psychiatric hold and because of her continued behaviors, and uses that as her bases for saying not to judge and laugh at her. And Bynes has done more outrages and unusual behaviors that would point to mental illness. I have had many family members with Bipolar disorder and Bynes seems to present to have the manic episodes (again can’t say for sure because I am not expert but from her actions that is what I understand). This doesn’t mean she is mentally ill and we won’t know for sure until she says it for herself, and quite frankly if she doesn’t want us to know that is her prerogative and non of our business. Does this mean that everyone who does something strange is mentally ill, no but continued patterns can be an indication of something wrong and she has had a continuing pattern for years. I also suffer from depression but don’t believe this article is saying that we can’t laugh at any in order to avoid offending people, but instead saying we should examine the whole picture to make sure we are not making fun of someone who is potentially very ill.
Thank you for writing this.
My son is 20 years old and was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder – the name for comorbid bipolar and schizophrenia diagnosis – at age 11. He has attempted suicide three times, so far.
No matter what Amanda Bynes diagnosis is or isn’t, it does seem she is a danger to herself.
I am glad to see this article at a poignant time in my very own life. My incredibly poetic and musically gifted 21 yr old family member died by suicide last month. So this discussion is so so important.
I must point something out though. I think one of the reasons the media mocks celebrities for their irrational behavior when it is known they suffer mental illness is because celebrities have the means and funds to go into rehabs and see the world renown doctors that the rest of us can’t access. When people without endless funds have a loved one who needs treatment it is a nightmare. Celebrities, like Robin Williams and Amanda Bynes have access to world renowned doctors and treatment centers the rest of us do not have. it’s frustrating that this country does not provide the best treatment and doctors for everyone, regardless of their fame or fortune. The odds of death by suicide would be reduced if that were the case, but it’s not and suicide is actually the one form of death that is on the rise by 35%. Mental Illness needs to be recognized as a serious illness indeed, but it is frustrating for those of us who have loved ones who suffer(ed) so greatly and who might have been saved had they(we) been able to afford to pay the famous psychiatrist at Harvard 50k for a 2-3 week physical and mental analysis, or 80k for Guld farm for 4 months treatment, and many other places where the BEST treatment that can save lives costs 50k+.
[…] http://letsqueerthingsup.com/2014/10/16/its-all-fun-and-games-until-someone-dies-amanda-bynes-robin-… […]
I am so glad you wrote this. I’m unfortunately one of the ones who needed to read it, and I really am sincerely sorry now that I ever thought she was just looking for attention or whatever. No one should have to go through this, and from here on out I’m going to be a lot more conscious of my judgment toward celebrities.
That said, the last line of your article would make a great fall out boy song title.
Thank you. This read was perfect and everyone should educate themselves.
Americans do like to watch people flounder… especially celebrities.
Amen and thank you!
Between Demi Lovato, Robin Willams and Amanda Bynes being in the headlines, I really hope that mental illness will be talked about, and taken as the serious issue that it is.
Great post. You raised some excellent questions. As a society we exonerate anybody who dies, but offer the living not half the forgiveness or even sympathy.
Strong work! It seems that child stars get especially unforgiving, harsh, relentless media attention on entering adulthood: Amanda Bynes, Miley Cyrus, Justin Beiber, etc. Partially because they’re such a rich source of odd behavior & misbehavior, I suppose. In that the most common ages for mental illness onset lies in roughly the same range, it seems that symptoms of new mental illness get interpreted as just more young celeb acting out. Completely unfair and misinformed, of course. I blame audiences. If we watch it, media folks provide it.
Reblogged this on Big Red Carpet Nursing and commented:
Strong post : I highly recommend it, and wonder what folks think.
Reblogged this on Carter Vail and commented:
Powerful and important! We need to stop judging mental illness and start helping! We are amazing and deserve the best!
Thank you for this post!
An amazing piece. Tactful and direct.
Truly a shame it had to be written at all but non the less very well done.
Reblogged this on Through the shard of the looking glass: It's all life and it's mine… and commented:
Amazing and direct… This it’s a well written article.
Amazing article.
[…] http://letsqueerthingsup.com/2014/10/16/its-all-fun-and-games-until-someone-dies-amanda-bynes-robin-… […]
Sam, what a great piece! Really makes you rethink the way we should view others with mental illnesses. Thank you for being open and candid about your struggles as well. I too am Bipolar. Im glad Im not the only one to open up about an illness that many put down or laugh at. We have to fight the stigma of mental illness! Great work.