York and District Mind: News: Sept. 2000 - Carrey comedy criticized

Mental health groups unite to criticise Carrey comedy
(Sept 2000)

Leading mental health and disability charities and groups, led by Mind, the National Schizophrenia Fellowship, and the Royal College of Psychiatrists, have united to criticise Twentieth Century Fox’s new ‘comedy’ Me, Myself & Irene as an irresponsible film that plays on the public’s worst fears.

`People with mental illness are soft targets, already on the receiving end of prejudice, abuse and discrimination. This film could increase the stigma of schizophrenia amongst the age group most at risk from the first onset of schizophrenia – the 15-24 year old age group who are the target audience for this film.’

Seventy per cent of the public wrongly believe that people with mental illness are violent, whereas they are more likely to be the victims of violence: nearly one in two people with mental health problems report abuse and harassment, and one in four have been forced to move home because of harassment. Stigma and fear put people off seeking help.

Young people aged 14-17 say that their fears and perceptions of mental illness are based on its portrayal in films. The central character of Me, Myself and Irene is a police officer with ‘advanced delusionary schizophrenia with involuntary narcissistic rage’. The NSF and Mind have complained to the Advertising Standards Authority about the posters advertising the film that use the phrase "From Gentle …. To Mental". Violence is not a symptom of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is not a split personality. The diagnosis used is completely bogus and bears no relation to the day-to-day lives of people diagnosed with schizophrenia.