A scroll through Twitter revealed comments such as:
- "Kanye in hospital with temporary psychosis, name one genius that ain't crazy?"
- "Kanye West is said to be recovering well in hospital after a nine hour operation to remove his head from his arsehole."
- "Kanye west, Kid Cudi and Orlando Brown should drop a mixtape called Asylum."
- "Kanye West cancels tour amidst public temper tantrums and emotional instability. His bid for the White House 2020 is shaping up nicely."
- "Kanye west hospitalized, our thoughts go out to all the hospital staff at this difficult time."
It's remarkable that in those early days following the news breaking how few comments there were empathizing or sending messages of hope, strength, or recovery; rather, social media pages were filled more with comments minimizing, joking, or making diagnostic presumptions with little but a TMZ report or personal opinions to base it on.
In the article below, reporter Andre Picard is quick to remind us all of a few powerful messages regarding mental health that really should be what we take away from West and other celebrities' such hospitalizations. The first, that mental illness does not discriminate; it affects 1 in 5 individuals each year and sometimes this even includes celebrities; they are human and are no more immune to mental illness than we ourselves are. The second, that mental illness is no laughing or joking matter; it can significantly affect one's daily function, livelihood, and of course their family and relationships. By minimizing or making fun of West's recent hospitalization and mental stability we only serve to perpetuate stigma and make light of the pain and suffering that others who have once lived through or experienced similar difficulties have . Thirdly, be cautious of playing doctor or therapist and giving your own diagnostic impression. It is unfair to make a diagnosis given the limited information or relating it simply to West's recent comments regarding Donald Trump or his "creativity". Be mindful and simply consider how you would react to such messages should you or a loved one be faced with a similar situation. For anyone, being involuntary detained in hospital for psychiatric assessment can be a terrifying, confusing, and ultimately distressing time.
To read the full article, visit:
www.theglobeandmail.com/life/celebrity-news/what-we-can-learn-from-kanye-wests-public-struggles/article32990775/