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Post by Admin on Jun 22, 2015 17:11:19 GMT -4
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Post by Christine Lomiguen on Jun 22, 2015 17:28:57 GMT -4
Mental illness, in many cultures, is such a huge stigma that this article made me feel hopeful that more people will come to realize it's a real disease, with so many aspects, that affects so many people. I like how this article pointed out that the question "Can black people get depression?" even exists; my preceptor at my last rotation claimed there was a "black woman syndrome", which she defined as black women taking care of everyone around them, putting others first, and neglecting their own needs. As the article says, depression is seen as a sign of weakness, not only in African American culture but also in almost every culture I've come across, so I really like the idea of music, which reaches all generations and all cultures, destigmatizing mental illness.
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Post by Hiren Darji on Jun 25, 2015 7:50:15 GMT -4
The article on “How Rappers Are Destigmatizing Mental Illness” really allowed me to get a better understanding how still in various parts of the world Mental Illness is still frowned upon in the society. People from different parts of the world have different patterns of genes which allows them to be predisposed to various diseases whether it be mental illness or other illness. Every society, has various ways of dealing with depression when stressed. This article, focuses on the rappers and African American community; how depression is viewed by this community. However, I would say not just the western culture but non-western cultures also significantly suffers from mental illness as well. Since, rappers use their emotions to portray their work it is more proclaimed in the community. We know that across America in various middle schools and high schools there are teenagers that are trying to make their way and make a name in the society. I believe, music and social media is great way to raise awareness about mental illness and how we can destigmatize mental illness. However, we can take it a step forward by using music and social media to destigmatize mental illness in various cultures as well.
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Post by obinnabaribe on Jun 25, 2015 9:15:41 GMT -4
Interesting article. Music is such a powerful tool to reach out to the masses. Its definitely is a good medium to reduce the stigma attached to mental illnesses especially depression. This article help me get a sense of how different types of music could help relate to mental illnesses. I would add that music is also a massive tool used to help wean off mental illnesses such as depression bipolar disorder, psychosis, e.t.c so why not use the same tool to reach out to the uninformed. rap especially has been a means of helping explore different facets of depression. I can relate to it because I listen to a lot of Rap Music and I can't help but hear the message. these are definitely the voices that can help listeners , especially listeners of color. even if I can't relate, I can sympathize, bravo!
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Post by MINH QUACH on Jun 25, 2015 9:51:47 GMT -4
After reading the article, I learned that mental illnesses like Depression not only manifests in many ways like "feeling of worthlessness", "loss of interest in normal activities" and "suicide thoughts" but highly to musicians like rappers. It is amazing how music can bring a person's emotions down from stress such as from studying or work. The article also made me realize that rap has been a way to destigmatize depression, especially in the black community, simply by talking about it. As the article says "music is a powerful medium that can help people acknowledge realities they otherwise might not have", we live in a world where we continue to dig deeper and finder more ways to see the "whole picture of reality" as time passes by.
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Post by anoop loke on Jun 25, 2015 10:11:07 GMT -4
I came across a patient a week ago, who never received any treatment for her mental illness because it
was such a stigma in her culture. She said, “My mother who is Dominican, does not believe that a
person can have mental illness.” Throughout the world, mental illness is not recognized and sometimes
looked down upon. Many go untreated for conditions that can be easily managed just because in their
society or culture mental illness is not recognized as a serious condition. Fortunately, people are slowly
starting to realize that getting treatment for mental illness is no different than getting treatment for
hypertension, diabetes or hyperlipidemia. Just like these disease, if mental illness is not treated in a
timely manner, the person can deteriorate drastically over time and have a huge effect on their
everyday life. This was exactly what happened to the patient I encountered. She only sought treatment
when her condition got so bad that she had to be hospitalized. What’s unfortunate is that, she has a
younger brother who has signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder who is not getting any treatment.
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Post by Babar Akhter on Jun 25, 2015 10:21:27 GMT -4
The article does present with interesting points however what it does lack is the history of the origination of "rap music". Anyone who listens and understand the essence of rap music, the origins were deeply rotated from such genres as soul, blues and even pre dating to times of oppression and suffrage. The music forum was built from the expression of free speech and clear communication to express ones opinions of injustice. The article talked about all of the predominantly mainstream artist and failed to represent the quintessential idols as Tupac, NWA, public enemy to name a few. These artist also exploited depression in the means of a unjust government and media exploiting black people as what Dr. Dre described as "caged animals". So when you have a forum of expression that instigates lyrically profound messages of depression, we must understand the root and where the underlying messages are originated from. Todays mainstream music stems the problem of exploiting depression as a norm. Many of these artist just publicize sex, drugs and even suicide as there outlets because it feeds into this hype of depression how it has been delt with for the past 6 decades. It will continue to due so because most of the population that feeds into lyrics of this "rappers" are themselves insecure individuals that want a sense of belonging and a guide from someone they can relate to handle there own depression. Overall the article does present interesting arguments pertaining to rap music however the lack a better understanding exactly why musicians in rap music use there songs as a outlet for there inner turmoil's fails to acknowledge the reasons behind why "depression" is a forum for there communication.
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Post by Farisa Ali on Jun 25, 2015 11:05:22 GMT -4
Many mental illnesses have a stigma attached to them, not only in American society but also across the world. This article focuses on rap and its approach to de-stigmatizing depression by finding an outlet over the radio. African American males especially rappers such as Kendrick and Notorious BIG, give off the impression of being untouchable and are important figures for the younger population. When incorporating depression in their songs the younger population will be exposed to the shunned topic of depression and be more accepting of it in the future. I also think the author fails to touch on the fact that these songs can be a form of therapy; many listeners will be able to relate to the lyrics and can function as a coping mechanism. Lastly, in the article the author states " These are the voices that can help listeners of color connect with depression," I believe it will not only help people of color but also American society as a whole.
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Post by Maria Bezares, MS3 on Jun 25, 2015 13:57:46 GMT -4
The stigmatization of mental illnesses is a concept that have existed in our society for a long time now. Historically, many cultures have shared the common belief of mental illnesses as been a shameful punishment or consequence for sins and immoral behaviors committed by family members or the individuals suffering the condition; mentality that, indirectly, still has been influencing at some degree the conception of mental illnesses . Also, in other cultures, mental illnesses were thought to be caused by the invasion of evil spirits and demons, which leads to the association of mental diseases with an awful presence (Foerschner, 2010). It is this shameful vision of mental illnesses among members of the society what is hindering patients from seeking medical assistance for their conditions, and physicians from diagnosing and treating patient earlier in the onset of the diseases. Now, I think the approach that the rap music is recently taking, considering it's scope in society, could result in a modification of this mentality, resulting in the acceptance of mental illnesses as any other illness that needs evaluation and treatment. This could translate into the improvement of the mental health of the country. References Foerschner, A. 2010. The History of Mental Illness: From "Skull Drills" to "Happy Pills". Retrieved from: www.studentpulse.com/authors/250/allison-m-foerschner |
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Post by Freddie Guzman on Jun 25, 2015 14:12:43 GMT -4
The problem with depression is the stigma associated with it. We as a culture don’t universally accept mental health issues as a true disease. Not only that but couple with the revered life of superstar actors and singers we find it difficult if not near impossible that such socially successful people might have a mental illness specifically depression. We have to understand that they are people too who just as you or I can have certain predilections to any disease state which includes but is not limited to depression. It may be more culturally deplorable and seen as a sign of weakness in certain ethnic groups but that should not take away from the fact that everyone has the right to be treated equally for their physical and mental issues in this country. The sooner we can accept this as a universal truth the faster we’ll grow as a morally trustworthy society.
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Post by Biju Babu on Jun 25, 2015 14:28:20 GMT -4
I agree with a lot of things said in this article. I do agree that in some cultures, depression or any other kind of mental illness will be interpreted as a sign of weakness. I know in particularly my culture, that there is a stigma associated with mental disorders and many people are ashamed to admit it out loud that they have one. Rap has been a modern way to release these inner thoughts and feelings and allows for an environment to help support one another. A person in America can hear a rap song the same time as a person from China and both can relate to it the same way. As Eminem says, "music is reflection of self, we just explain it and then we get our checks in the mail" or "that's why we sing for these kids who don't have a thing, except for a dream and a f- rap magazine, who post pin-up pictures on their walls, all day long, idolize their favorite rappers and know all their songs, or for anyone who's ever been through sh- in their lives, so they sit and they cry at night, wishing they die, till they throw on a rap record and they sit and they vibe." Music can be appreciated and interpreted in a million different ways depending on the listener and rap that expresses some sort of meaning to it and educates its listeners is a very valuable asset.
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Post by vfonseca on Jun 25, 2015 16:46:23 GMT -4
Through the years music has serve as a form of expression and a mean of communication. It is very interesting to see how rappers are making use of this tool to destigmatize mental illness. Helping people to understand that mental illness is not a form of weakness but rather a disease as many others. By opening up about mental health and discussing it on a more personalized level, rappers can help breach these ideas, and help the community to speak up. Music is a powerful medium that not only will help society to acknowledge they have a problem but also to express it. Studies have shown that music has been used in psychosis and neurosis and now is being used in addressing organic disorders such as dementia. The aim of therapy is to help people with mental illness, including serious mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia or like illnesses) to develop relationships and to address issues they may not be able to using words alone. Music therapy significantly diminished patients' negative symptoms, increased their ability to converse with others, reduced their social isolation, and increased their level of interest in external events. As music therapy has no side-effects and is relatively inexpensive, it merits further evaluation and wider application.
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Post by Biby Babu on Jun 25, 2015 16:46:45 GMT -4
This was an interesting article in that the negative stigma associated with mental health illnesses are actually applied to the music industry - it is an eye-opener to how much things really have changed throughout American history. Hip-hop was not simply a genre of music - it was once a "movement," empowering minorities (predominately African Americans) to rise and fight the unwritten and unclaimed oppression. Rap was a platform to express the daily racial struggles faced by blacks. But what do kids these days know about that now? To them, they only know what is now a bleak glimmer of hip hop - the beats, the shallow lyrics, and the subliminal messages of degrading women and substance abuse.
Perhaps the saturation of messages like "be strong," and "one love" coated in hip hop lyrics back then shaped young African American minds to deflect any weaknesses - this includes a personal reflection of emotions, fluctuation of moods, and getting past the denial stage of accepting that one has depression. When TuPac, B.I.G and my personal favorite, Nas, fill young minds with examples of stark reality and tell them how important it is to toughen up, it is only natural that eventually, one begins to fear any signs of weakness, a falter in mental health being one of them.
Pearce quotes, "In the last few months alone, rap has taken major strides toward helping to destigmatize depression, both within the genre and within the black community, simply by talking about it" (2015). If the rap/hip-hop movement made such an impact back then, there is no reason why it can't still be an outlet now - in this case, making aware of mental illnesses and saying it is natural and acceptable in our society.
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Post by Chris Yulo on Jun 25, 2015 18:17:53 GMT -4
I think this article highlights the good that comes from music in general. Being a hermit, I don't really know what's popular these days; a quick google search of the top charts brings me to a range between Fetty Wap's "Trap Queen" and T-Wayne's
Nasty Freestyle," but those examples do not fully quantify what hip hop offers youth today. I do know that other hip-hop artists delve into less superficial subjects like romance, depression, familial bonds, etc. It's refreshing to see a writer acknowledge the musical depth that is being showcased by artists.
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Post by Rohit Gupta on Jun 25, 2015 22:29:20 GMT -4
Nice article, highlighting some extremely important aspects of depression and its perception in the society. Mental health has long been associated with cultural practices and ethnic background. The article has used the lyrics of several rap song and celebrity perceptions to talk about the symptoms of the disease. I agree that music can play an important role in destigmatizing mental illness. Failure to acknowledge the disease early and seek timely medical attention attributes to severe impairment in quality or loss of life. In May 2015 Jacob et al published an article in Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment highlighting the beliefs and attitudes of Malay, Chinese and Indian ethnic groups. They concluded that assessing patients' attitudes and beliefs, as well as the impact of their respective cultures, can be used in tailoring psychoeducation. Creating awareness is an important step forward towards achieving good mental health.
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