This article takes a sociological look at an issue that most of us are likely to come into contact with, one way or another. After taking an historical look at the changing ways in which mental illness has been defined and treated, Anna Gekoski draws on the work of sociologist Erving Goffman to look at the ways in which those suffering mental illness are stigmatised and often suffer numerous forms of discrimination.
The author then draws on her own research into this topic to offer quotes from celebrities to show how people in the public eye may also suffer from various forms of mental illness. You could obviously use the material here in a discussion of mental health and illness. However, you could also use it to look at how public attitudes are often shaped by the media, and to discuss various forms of inequality and discrimination.
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