The week so far has consisted of several parts, from story lines in Eastenders, to news reports, to powerful thought-provoking documentaries. It seems as though the BBC are aiming to encourage any one and everyone to partake in talking about mental health more openly, and I personally see this as a very big step forward in the media portrayal of mental health.
I managed to catch the first documentary in the season, The Not So Secret Life Of The Manic Depressive: 10 Years On, a follow-up to Stephen Fry's original documentary, The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive. The rest of my blog will detail my thoughts on this documentary and some readers may find this triggering, so please remember to stay safe before reading further.
On the topic of trigger warnings, I found that BBC One's warning for this documentary in particular a little dismissive. It confirmed there would be discussions on suicide, however, Stephen Fry talks about his own suicide attempt quite graphically and early on in the programme, which took me by surprise a little. In fact, I had to watch the documentary in two parts in order to remain feeling safe. The openness and honesty this documentary brought with it should be admired, however, although a stronger trigger warning would have been more appropriate I feel.
The documentary looked at Stephen's life since the original documentary, including how his diagnosis had changed and details of his admission to hospital. The programme also allowed us to meet other individuals living with Bipolar, a mood disorder that affects 1 in every 100 adults in the UK. Bipolar Disorder, sometimes referred to as manic depression, is a mental health condition that causes episodes of depression and mania. You can read more about Bipolar disorder on the NHS website.
The programme was good at explaining varying forms of Bipolar disorder, highlighting how an earlier diagnosis can be beneficial for the individual living a healthy and safe life long-term. It was also good at clarifying how individuals differ in terms of their 'cycles'. For some, episodes of mania can last weeks whereas for others, it can last months, and symptoms and experiences can vary greatly from person to person.
As the documentary explored the lives of individuals living with Bipolar, it recognised how stigma was still playing a big part in our society, and how this can affect people living with the disorder. I felt it was positive they looked at this, as it would be thought-provoking for some viewers.
Generally, the programme was very open and honest. I admire this - it is rare that we see the true reflections of what a mental illness looks like and how it manifests in an individual, and it is even rarer that it is recognised that each individual may have different experiences. Mental health can be quite a blurry field, and not everyone fits in to one particular 'box'. Having this highlighted was key in breaking down the stigma surrounding Bipolar and other mental health conditions too.
Medication was talked about quite often during the programmes, as well as admissions to psychiatric units for some people. Again, it was important the documentary highlighted this, and I remember how they noted in particular how some individuals hate the side effects of medication so much, they prefer to try and manage their mood alone. It reflects how what works for one person may not work for another, something that not everyone in society recognises yet. I believe the programme could have highlighted other forms of treatment though, such as lifestyle changes and talking therapies as being beneficial to some.
All in all, the documentary was thought-provoking, honest and you admired the people we met on their journey living with Bipolar. There were some incredibly open and raw moments that were captured, which I've never really witnessed before in many documentaries. Whilst this is incredibly positive and gives me optimism for the rest of the series, I do believe the BBC fell short at their trigger warnings and I would like to take a moment to remind those reading this blog that if at any point you feel unsafe whilst watching the 'In The Mind' season, switch off and take time to recover. I've found that watching the programmes when they first air isn't always a good choice, so instead I record or catch on iPlayer, waiting to read reviews and recommendations online first, or waiting to be with my partner when I watch.
If you'd like to find out more about the series, click here to visit the BBC press release for the season.
You can also watch The Not So Secret Life Of The Manic Depressive: 10 Years On on BBC iPlayer.
I'd love to know what you thought of this programme, and whether you have watched any thing else as part of the 'In The Mind' season so far. Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Much love, and stay safe.
AG -x-
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