Oh, and there it is. I was wondering how long it would take someone to suggest that Roseanne is mentally ill and we should all feel bad for her. I’m tempted to say I’m disappointed that it was Jimmy Kimmel, but not really. Birds of a feather and all that.
Unfortunately, I’ve also had people in my own life say this to me in person. Interesting how it’s only celebrities who are afforded that consideration, usually because they get in trouble for doing something super shitty.
The people who are quick to play the mental illness ‘get out of jail free’ card for their favorite celebrity (or not even their favorite celebrity, ANY celebrity) are also a lot of the same people who read bullshit self help books and post pretty pictures with inspirational quotes and wax obnoxious about how attitude is everything and exercising in the forest is an antidepressant.
Average nobodies who hide their pain and suffer silently through every waking day – and yet, who miraculously manage not to compare black people to apes or make outrageous claims about slavery being a choice – have to exist in a society where they are told on a daily basis that all their problems are in their heads, and our lackluster mental health policies and practically nonexistent funding constantly reinforce that on a macro scale.
Until the APA officially classifies a proclivity for being a racist, sexist, ignorant dumbass as an indicator of mental illness, hang up the phone on that lazy idea and stop calling.
Mental illness doesn’t make you racist. It’s insane that this even has to be said.
—emily duchaine
Flommist Emily Duchaine lives in the Pacific Northwest. She likes to drink mead, learn about sharks, and listen to the Talking Heads. She pretends to be a professional businesswoman most days. Copyright © 2018 Emily Duchaine.
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