Right now, NCIS:LA is heading in for an interesting season with Deeks. He suffered massive torture and trauma and now has to recover from it, he has PTSD - a mental illness common after excessive trauma, especially among military personnel returning from war. PTSD is a serious and complicated illness and not easy one to handle. But if treated right, people can recover from it.
There is a huge stigma towards mental illness in today's society and it is treated as a source of shame. It is debilitating and sickening that people that deal with mental illnesses face such prejudice and lack of understanding in today's society. Things are changing ever so slowly and mental illness is gaining more awareness. It are normal people that get mental illnesses, anyone can get them. Such a thing deserves understanding, awareness and support - not stigma.
As things are shifting, it is important to validate mental illnesses in media and approach the issue with sensitivity and care. Stephen Fry has been a major figure in that regard. And now, NCIS:LA now has a rare and important chance now to contribute to a changing view of mental illnesses. If they portray Deeks' mental illness with sensitivity and care and acknowledge the illness, its complications but also the potential for healing - they are doing something very important. They'll be validating mental illness and showing how it can affect people, portraying it in its many complicated forms while showing the potential of recovery, of hope. Deeks is a fictional character but it's been proven time and again that validating difficult issues on TV can be an important stepping stone in provoking discussions on them and contributing to more awareness and understanding.
Castle handled PTSD in season 4 in a wonderful episode. They treated the matter with sincere respect and understanding. This episode later won an award for truthful portrayal of a mental illness and it is one of their best episodes.
Now NCIS:LA has the chance to do the same and I hope they step up to the challenge. If they do, they will contributing to an important debate and increasing awareness of an issue that touches people everywhere. They have the capacity to change the opinions of millions towards PTSD and validating the experience of so many that have the illness. Who wouldn't want to use that chance?
It is my hope that they will step up and deliver. It is their duty to do so.
There is a huge stigma towards mental illness in today's society and it is treated as a source of shame. It is debilitating and sickening that people that deal with mental illnesses face such prejudice and lack of understanding in today's society. Things are changing ever so slowly and mental illness is gaining more awareness. It are normal people that get mental illnesses, anyone can get them. Such a thing deserves understanding, awareness and support - not stigma.
As things are shifting, it is important to validate mental illnesses in media and approach the issue with sensitivity and care. Stephen Fry has been a major figure in that regard. And now, NCIS:LA now has a rare and important chance now to contribute to a changing view of mental illnesses. If they portray Deeks' mental illness with sensitivity and care and acknowledge the illness, its complications but also the potential for healing - they are doing something very important. They'll be validating mental illness and showing how it can affect people, portraying it in its many complicated forms while showing the potential of recovery, of hope. Deeks is a fictional character but it's been proven time and again that validating difficult issues on TV can be an important stepping stone in provoking discussions on them and contributing to more awareness and understanding.
Castle handled PTSD in season 4 in a wonderful episode. They treated the matter with sincere respect and understanding. This episode later won an award for truthful portrayal of a mental illness and it is one of their best episodes.
Now NCIS:LA has the chance to do the same and I hope they step up to the challenge. If they do, they will contributing to an important debate and increasing awareness of an issue that touches people everywhere. They have the capacity to change the opinions of millions towards PTSD and validating the experience of so many that have the illness. Who wouldn't want to use that chance?
It is my hope that they will step up and deliver. It is their duty to do so.
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