Media
July 25, 2001
Cartoon depiction is not funny
There is no humour in the stereotypical depiction of a person found to be not criminally responsible (NCR) of a crime and suffering from a serious and persistent mental illness as was presented in the July 11th Dolighan cartoon.
Those found to be NCR of committing crimes are a very small proportion of those persons with mental illness. Those meeting the legal definition of NCR are incapable of appreciating the nature and quality of their actions.
A court determination of NCR ensures these individuals receive treatment and care in a hospital rather than a prison setting. NCR individuals spend an average of 3-4 years longer in custody then they would have in jail.
A natural progression of treatment in a hospital is the slow reintegration of individuals into the community. Expanding community involvement with the approval of the Ontario Review Board and the supervision of the hospital staff allows individuals to adapt to daily life outside hospital. To do so, those with serious mental illness need the community's support.
Persons with a serious mental illness drive buses, manage offices, teach your children, report the news, sing, dance and go to church.
They are our sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, friends, co-workers and relatives. One in every five of our readers will need mental health services at some point during their lives.
We know biases are based on fear. People fear and ridicule what they don't understand. Perpetrating biases by caricaturing the mentally ill is a disservice to our community.
Rather than reinforcing stereotypes, journalism should inform its readers, provide factual analysis and promote inclusion.
This reader would like to see some serious articles addressing the challenges and opportunities for psychiatric clients to regain their health, including mental illness awareness and services provided that facilitate recovery.
Darlene Scott
Patient Advocate
Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office
Whitby
