Hollywood and The Bigger Picture

[Summer Rose]

My daughter asked me to watch a film with her the other day. It was one of her favourite movies that I had somehow missed called Perks of Being a Wallflower. It was a well scripted, touching, coming of age story that in my opinion dealt sensitively and fairly accurately with mental health and other tricky adolescent issues. My daughter said she loved the film because one of the main characters " is like me".

Like me. The words rolled around in my mind. It occurred to me that there are few film or TV characters that are actually like my beautiful girl, who suffers from anxiety and OCD. It also dawned on me that some of the characters currently on the screen who do have OCD are almost insulting. Take Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory, for example. He is a walking, talking billboard for the lighter side of autism and OCD but, in my opinion, his character does nothing to contribute to the community's greater understanding of what these conditions are really like to live with.

I think it's fair to estimate that the global television and movie industry makes billions of dollars annually telling stories about characters with mental health conditions. Oscar winning blockbusters such as, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Ordinary People, Silver Linings Playbook and a Beautiful Mind have certainly played a role in raising awareness, but is that enough?

Given that inaccurate film representations of mental illness can profoundly contribute to stigma and the reinforcement of unhelpful stereotypes, does the industry have a community obligation to inform? Or is just entertainment? Or does anything designed to raise awareness do some good? Love to hear what you think.

[Summer Rose]

Hi romantic_thi3f and everyone

Your post got me thinking about actual psychologists on TV and what contribution they make, or don't make, to stigma. Right now I'm thinking specifically of Dr Phil.

Given he provides psychological advice for the masses, his advice must appeal to the masses to generate ratings. And this must influence the advice he provides to guests on his program. A less than ideal, possibly dangerous reality for the individuals seeking help on his program.

On the other hand, he is a strong advocate for therapy. He raises awareness of mental health conditions and issues. He certainly humanises the process of seeking help.

Dr Phil has an audience of millions world wide, should he?

Have your say ... does Dr Phil (and others like him) simply profit from the deliberate sensationalism of people's problems? Or does he have a legitimate role to play in de-stigmatising therapy?

[MsPurple]

Hi. What an interesting discussion.

Dr Phil can be a hit or miss I find. Sometimes he is really helpful and you can see his intentions are pure. Others you can see it his just frustrated and wants to make the moolah. I don't watch the show to often, but I do see snippets on youtube a lot. I think he recently did one with a spoilt 15 year old and he was quite helpful at helping the parent, I think he needed to delve into the relationship between mother and daughter more, however I think what he pointed out needed to be shown to the mother in the blunt way he did. I don't think this blunt approach he used on this individual would be appropriate with all those on the show. Generally speaking he tends to know when to do the blunt approach. I do question why some people go on the show. I do find the show tends to be a bit one sided and they sometimes show one side as the villian.

It's a tough one. I think the is doing more episodes for ratings than actually doing mental health awareness these days, however as I said before I only watch snippets on youtube so I maybe mistaken

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi!

Funny - after our last post I ended up thinking about Dr Phil a lot! The character limit on these posts is working in my favour so I don't rant and rave too much 🙂

Dr Phil isn't actually a psychologist. He used to be apparently but he's not a licensed one so he tries to make it clear that the show is for entertainment. I read on a website that he was actually disciplined by the board (for his credentials) -

Personally, I think he's doing more harm than good. The sessions are portrayed like therapy - so they give people an idea of what therapy would be like. Calling people 'crazy' or 'insane', being incredibly confrontational (cue the screams of "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?"), dropping ultimatums like flies, sending people off to rehab/teen camps, interrupting them and shaming them/making them feel uncomfortable in a live audience.

While I was curiously googling, I came across this thread -

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/20oge2/redditors_that_appeared_on_dr_phil_what_do_you/

It's full of people whose friends/family was on the show and their own experiences of it. Worth a read if you're interested!

On the plus side, he does show people that therapy can be for everyone (not just those with severe mental illnesses), his website links to accredited therapists, and he does have psychologists who work for him - and supposedly wrote his books.

[White_Rose]

Whoa, I cannot believe he is still on TV.

Guys, pressing buttons for me. I spent three years receiving therapy from someone who never had the quals or even did any training. Convicted of fraud and forgery. Now going through a second process in a civil tribunal to decide if he did pretend he had quals, if he offended by going against a some legislation I cannot remember and to determine the degree of harm he has caused and may cause in the future. Speaking for myself I can say he devastated my world. Now nearly two years since the process started and finally was convicted after 12 months. Looks like it is still going to be another few months before the other process gets to the tribunal although the investigation has been completed. Legal processes from here. I am not holding my breath and expect if it is all completed by the end of this second year I will be lucky.

I have to say I have not watched this show. I wonder the basis that allows him to be called doctor. I doubt he has a PhD or that he has trained as a doctor.Goodness me, this revelation has knocked the stuffing out of me.

Mary

[Summer Rose]

Hi MsPurple

I think you've hit the nail on the head ... ratings is the magic word.

I think ratings drive Dr Phil to sensational situations and provide extreme reactions and advice. Like you say, sometimes he's okay but the vast majority of the time I believe he's unhelpful. It's such a shame because someone like Dr Phil has an amazing platform to showcase the how and why of professional therapy and it's missed.

[Summer Rose]

Hi romantic_thi3f

Wow! I had no idea that Dr Phil isn't a qualified psych. Thank you for that revelation. I was sitting on the fence about him but that news has tipped me into the disapproval realm.

You know, my mum has been quoting that guy to me for years! She loves the show and has believed for years that she is picking up credible psychological advice. How can someone masquerade as a psych on prime time TV? How many people have mistakenly taken his advice and applied it in their lives? What harm has he caused?

First, he doesn't responsibly portray therapy. Second, his advice is probably just as good as yours or mine--only we don't pretend to be something we're not. Shame on Dr Phil and the network.

On a more positive note to end the post, can anyone think of a credible TV psychologist? Maybe Dr Joyce Brothers?

[Summer Rose]

Hi Mary

I'm sorry to hear about what happened to you. It is hard to believe that someone could be so depraved as to prey upon a sick person seeking help and treatment. I cannot even begin to imagine how hurt, angry and betrayed you must have felt at the time and how upset you must still be.

I'm sure you know that what happened to you could have happened to anyone and that you are in no way responsible, yet I need to say it anyway. It takes courage to talk about such an experience and I applaud you. It takes even more courage to pursue the matter through the court system. I know it's draining but you have already achieved so much in his conviction. Keep going, be strong and nail this unethical con artist. You will be doing the community and yourself a service.

I'm sorry that we triggered unpleasant matters for you but I hope that in some small way it helped you to talk about it. We are always here for you, my friend.

[MsPurple]

Ok I just was as astonished as Summer Rose when you said he wasn't a psychologist. So I googled and found this summary

Dr. Phil is a Doctor. He has a Ph.D. in Psychology.
Dr. Phil is not a psychologist. He is not licensed as a psychologist.
Dr. Phil used to be a psychologist. He used to be licensed.
He cannot practice psychology, and what he does is not actually the practice of psychology.
Yes, he can call him self Dr. Phil.

So basically he used to be a registered psychologist, but since doing the show he is no longer registered. He can not call what he does on tv as psychologist (yup definately agree, I think of his show as a show of intervention). He can say he is a doctor because he has a PHD. So ok he does have knowledge of the area, however he isn't registered. This does raise some alarm bells as he this would mean he doesn't do CPD (continuous learning) in the area. I think people watching the show should know that although tv can help spread awareness that the bottom line of any TV show is money

[White_Rose]

Hello Rose

Thank you for your comments. I thought the hurt would go away in time but it actually got worse as the full implications dawned on me. I know it sounds stupid to say that but I think I was so stunned at first that I could not not take it in immediately. I have had support, and still get support, where I live and I am grateful for this. Unfortunately I also still see a psychiatrist weekly.

My mood changes all the time from anger/hurt/disbelief/resignation/no feeling. At times it totally overwhelms me and I have to start again living with this betrayal. I find it hard to trust anyone and this is a constant battle. Writing on BB has always helped me from when I joined in 2014 and when I was honoured to be asked to join the Community Champions group. I was doing this before the deceit was discovered and I believe it played a big part in supporting me even though I could not talk about it for a long time.

No fault of yours or anyone that the subject came up. It is a valid point talking about MI on TV or in newspapers come to that. I was amazed how this man could continue to give advice on TV and have many people believe in and trust him. Not sure where he lives but I would have thought he was committing an offence in Australia by pretending to be what he was not. While he may have had genuine claim to be a psychologist in the past it is surely not appropriate to continue doing so. No matter whether or not he says he is not a psychologist he is certainly implying he is still registered as a psychologist. I imagine nothing has changed on his program. How dodgy can that be. And what if someone came to harm after taking his advice. He may be keeping to the letter of the law but not the intent and certainly not ethical.

This thread is sparking a lot of debate which is always good. We need to be unafraid to speak out.

Mary

[blondguy]

Hey Summer Rose....Thankyou again for the great thread topic

Huge thanks to MsPurple for taking the time and providing accurate input where DrPhil is concerned.

Just my take on Dr Phil if thats okay...

• He is qualified as MsPurple mentioned above
• Dr Phil (and his wife) have a well engineered program that rates very well >>>>>$$$$
• He does promote effective parenting skills which is needed on a global basis
• Mental health is not a primary concern for Dr Phil as the more complex the topic the less his ratings and revenue from his book sales will be

Anyhow...I was going to post about taking a break from our problems and suggest Xanadu....Flashdance and Electric Dreams as excellent examples of the good that Hollywood can do for our mental health 🙂

Excuse I for straying off topic Summer Rose

My kindest always

Paul