In the Grey’s Anatomy episode entitled, “I Always Feel Like Somebody’s Watchin’ Me”, (netflix.com/Grey’s Anatomy/Season 6: Ep.3/Time: 6:20-9:22 & 12:28-13:40), the Doctors at Seattle Grace Hospital treat a woman and son who were involved in a motor vehicle accident. In the first scene, the woman, Judie Crowley, is taken into the hospital on a stretcher while her son, Tom Crowley, walks alongside her. At first, Doctor Karev wants Tom to go into the waiting room, but Judie instructs the doctors that Tom is diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and that he must stay with her. As the doctors are treating Judie, they find a pulsating growth on her stomach that Tom believes is due to aliens impregnating his mother. Tom is convinced that people are …show more content…
The myth that such individuals tend to be violent contributes to society’s fear and exclusion of individuals with psychological disorders such as schizophrenia. One result of this fear is a negative attitude, or prejudice, towards such individuals. This prejudice can lead to discrimination in the workforce and other social settings as well as negatively affect the development of relationships for such individuals. Also, the myth that a mentally ill person is unable to hold higher up positions in the workforce and/or be successful in sustaining oneself, can lead to the view that people diagnosed with schizophrenia, for example, should not be trusted with solitary tasks or larger responsibilities. This false viewpoint can inhibit personal growth and confidence in individuals with a psychological disorder. This common myth could also lead to pity from society as well as healthcare professionals which could in turn make the patient believe that they are unable to get better and take care of themselves successfully. In all, for change to occur, society must start providing more positive representations of people with mental illnesses. This includes the removal of stigmatization of psychological disorders in the media so that society can have a better understanding of what such individuals actually