Mental health podcasts such as State of Mind (created and hosted by General Hospital's Maurice Benard) that feature celebrity guests are an important and underutilized tool we can use to improve mental health awareness.
When it comes to human frailties and “flaws”, none are as judged and ostracized as those with questionable or poor mental health. Throughout the history of society, mental illness has been a taint rather than a human condition. A nervous breakdown could destroy a life, if anyone knew about it, so no one spoke of such things. The suicide of a relative was embarrassing, seen as a blotch on the family, so those types of deaths were hushed and often lied about. People have been under tremendous pressure to seem okay, their current state of mind notwithstanding. This feeds the disease. The strain of a mental health crisis is only exacerbated with the added pressure of pretending to be happy and hiding symptoms.
Celebrities have, for generations in America, been held to a standard of near royalty and many people feel that they are above and beyond our own life experiences. We see famous people as more beautiful, more glamorous, and without the challenges and tedium of our “normal” lives. The screen or stage makes them seem flawless, even when we know that they have worked hard to get where they are today. We're aware that many celebrities utilize plastic surgery for their perfect appearance but now we are bombarded in more modern times with photo-shopped pictures to further the notion that famous people just look better and ARE better at life than we are. Like it or not, celebrities can have an impact, whether positive or negative, on the perception of mental health. How can we then use this to further mental heath awareness and education?
When celebrities choose to come forward and speak out regarding their own challenges in mental health, we attain a sense of freedom to speak that can be a critical instrument of relief. If Maurice Benard can stand up as a successful, well-loved, Emmy-winning actor and say “I have Bi-Polar” then guess what? So can we. When his guests come onto his show and say they struggle with anxiety, OCD, PTSD, depression, or anything else that impacts them, it gives us the sense that we can now speak, too. We are no longer failures. We are normal. We are human beings that can face health challenges, mental or physical, and not feel shame. Without these platforms, without an opening for discussion, many of us would remain silent yet suffering. We would still feel like broken toys, as though we are somehow less than others because our mind holds us back. When we can freely discuss our challenges, others can better understand us and why we are sometimes noticeably affected. Instead of staring or whispering about it to others, maybe they will reach out and offer to help. A public breakdown becomes, no longer a public spectacle, but a public cry for help that people will know how to answer. If someone goes into cardiac arrest in a shopping mall, chances are someone there knows how to do CPR. It is just as vital that people know how to help someone when it's their mind rather than their body failing. The only way to accomplish this is by increasing awareness within the general public. Conversations about mental illness and awareness need to reach not only those directly impacted, but those who have no experience dealing with it. If a popular actor or singer speaks openly, there will be fans listening who wouldn't have tuned in just for mental health and they will learn something. How many boxing fans listened to Mia St John on State of Mind? (July11, 2021) Maybe they tuned in for her, but they came away with something bigger. Maybe General Hospital fans began watching the podcast because they are fans of Maurice (who plays Sonny Corinthos), but look at how much more Maurice's words impact them due to the respect they have for him.
In short- using celebrities to open mental health conversations is more effective simply because of the regard in which people hold them and the large audiences they can generate. With a platform like State of Mind, more people can be reached than are actively looking for help. The reason for tuning in may be far different than the reason for subscribing and faithfully watching. A podcast can be about anything, but when it is about something that truly matters, truly impacts the day to day life of other people, it's important to recognize it and use it to it's maximum potential.
