Our Anti-Sanist Future

The year 2020 forced us to reimagine life on the planet in diverse ways—socially, ecologically, politically. Nothing was “normal,” and yet our basic human needs remained and confronted us: how to eat anew, how to schedule our lives anew, and how to live in even closer emotional proximity with those in our immediate environments.

And yet, for a unique and oft-neglected demographic, the conditions of 2020 made things easier--for those with some forms of mental or psychiatric difference, the abrupt shift to quiet, home, and routine was a welcome balm, and a relief from the frenzy of everyday modern life. 

As a journalist with mental health challenges myself, and a researcher on cognitive diversity, in 2020 I found myself digging into a new area of inquiry--on sanism. What is sanism? Sanism is prejudice and discrimination toward those with mental health differences, judging people because of their mental health status, or even denying certain opportunities because of such differences. Like sexism, racism, ageism, and homophobia, sanism is embedded into our very culture and society. 

Additionally, and not surprisingly, sanism is perpetuated in movies, television, and pop culture, and so when considering reimagining futures post-2020, it is vital to examine the role of media, just as we might when trying to counter messages of sexist and racist stereotypes.

Research by Heather Stuart at Queen University shows that characters with mental illness are often depicted as violent and dangerous, and the actual camera shots feature more extreme close-ups and odd facial expressions. “Regardless of the genre studied, media have been found to provide overwhelmingly dramatic and distorted images of mental illness that emphasise dangerousness, criminality and unpredictability,” she writes. She says that such shots reinforce “their isolation and dislocation from the other characters and from the community.”

The legal scholar Michael Perlin has documented sanism at length, as prejudice toward those with mental disorder also plagues the criminal justice system. “Sanism is as insidious as other ‘isms’ and is, in some ways, more troubling, since it is largely invisible and largely socially acceptable,” he writes. “These generalizations, based upon preconceived and misinformed opinions about the nature of difference, make little reference to actual information.” 

While there is increasing interest in the topic of disability acceptance, it’s a slightly different endeavor to shake off deeply entrenched beliefs about the human mind. And while hard to talk about, it’s important that we do. There was once a time when people with anxiety and depression were shunned, and now those conditions are discussed rather openly in mainstream media, by social media influencers, and the plethora of psychology and mindfulness magazines sitting in bookstores, airports, and school offices and doctor’s clinics. Change is possible.

As such, it’s important to uncover where outdated beliefs come from and to understand how fierce compassion toward those with neurological or psychiatric differences helps us to reimagine an anti-sanist future. Writing in the 1990’s, the psychologist and researcher Otto F. Wahl states:

“When we perceive those with mental illnesses as a ‘different’ group or kind of people, it creates barriers to communication and understanding. Such a perception leads us to expect that it will be hard to be related to, to understand, or to appreciate those who are so different from the rest of us. In addition, as social scientists have repeatedly observed, the notion that a group of people is ‘different’ is the cornerstone of rejection. The idea that someone is ‘different’ often carries with it the connotation that he or she is also in some way ‘inferior,’ an idea certainly bolstered, with respect to mental illness, by the jokes and slang references to mental disorder found in the media. The image of people with mental illnesses as both different and unworthy lessens our desire for contact with such individuals and thus contributes to the social rejection commonly experienced by those with psychiatric disorders.”

In researching his book, Media Madness, Wahl found that 72% of characters depicted as committing violent acts were depicted as having some form of mental disorder, when in reality his research showed that only 12% of actual violent offenders have a form of mental disorder.  “With the presentation of mentally ill characters as evil, villainous, and incurable, it follows logically that the main hope for safety from these dangerous criminals would be their permanent removal and, indeed, the most common outcome for mentally ill villains in the media is death,” he writes of this unfortunate and unfair state of media depiction. In fact, he suggests that the problem of violence is far more complex and cannot be lazily blamed on mental illness. “Such a suggestion protects us from a perhaps more troubling recognition that it could be our society, our neglect of those at risk for criminal development, our attitudes and policies toward weapons, alcohol, punishment, and so forth which foster criminality.”

All of this has real impact on people’s perceptions, and fear perpetuates stigma. When confronting someone in real life with mental illness, people may be quick to judge any slightly different kind of behavior as potentially dangerous or “odd.” Or when confronting a stranger, they may even be too quick to call the police, leading to a confrontation or worse. These are often the fears that people hold in opening up about anything from severe depression to bipolar to heightened anxiety.  It’s no wonder then that mental health and illness are tough topics to discuss openly -- if media, the law, and other trusted supports have helped to create distorted images and perceptions, an individual who is struggling will feel fearful to open up. 

But there is hope, and entire networks of people and communities working toward change--havens of people, determined to talk openly about mental differences and proudly. The Hearing Voices Network is a community of individuals dedicated to normalizing various perceptual phenomena such as seeing visions or hearing voices. Emerging Proud connects and celebrates those who have gone through psychosis. I started my own series of events and gatherings called The Neurodiversity Project, where we bring in leading researchers and authors from science and pop culture who are revising media narratives about divergent identity and mental health.

So as you brave this new world, especially as the holidays are coming up, here are a few takeaways as you navigate how to strip away the stigma that so many face: 

• Let people know ahead of gathering, virtually or in-person. If you’ve been hiding a diagnosis of bipolar or severe depression or just general feelings that are uncomfortable to discuss, try to give those close to you a heads up. Being able to talk openly and confidently also helps to allay some of the fear and misperception that others hold about mental differences. You might hear surprise in their voice when you tell them, but take that as an opportunity to discuss false stereotypes and media depictions. It’s not only a learning opportunity, but also a way to reduce stigma at the same time. 

• Stick with care practices that help you and protect them like sacred medicine. Only you know the special tactics that keep you feeling good and grounded. If you need that daily “awe walk” at 2pm everyday, then don’t miss it for a thing! Have trouble meditating or sleeping with others nearby? Make sure you have a designated place to rest.

• Get involved and serve. Small actions like a quick sweet text to a friend or donating to a new documentary film or even just “liking” the stories your friends post on social media to support their work can all help you feel more connected to those around you. 

• Here at The Neurodiversity Project I’m designating December as “Sanism Awareness Month” and more specifically “anti-sanism week” December 1st-7th. Celebrate it! Find others like you who feel proud to be on this journey and know where you’re coming from. It’s vital to find community, or just one other person who “gets” you. And by helping to change public attitudes, you can be part of real societal change that benefits generations to come. 

As a myriad of social ills plague our world in 2020, sanism is yet another layer that intersects with layers of racism, classism, homophobia, transphobia, ageism and sexism. We have a long way to go toward creating an anti-sanist culture, but it’s vital we get there, and the holidays are a perfect time to be more forthright about mental difference and gather the support of friends and family as you prepare to be more open about this part of yourself with the world.

Excerpted from my forthcoming book, Mad Leaders. All rights reserved.

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And if you’d like to join the Anti-Sanist Futures group, click here—individuals and organizations from diverse fields are welcome, with a particular focus on media, pop culture, film, narrative strategy and the arts.