I know just one TV documentary about BPD by a person in the public eye, 'Me and the Voice in My Head' with Joe Tracini on Channel 4. I haven't watched it yet because I only found out about it a few weeks ago and I haven't yet had a moment when I've been able, and in the right mood, to watch it. When I've watched it, I will share some of my thoughts because it will be my first time watching a TV documentary about BPD on a British TV channel. That mere fact surely speaks volumes about the lack of representation of BPD in the UK.
By contrast, I've seen a large number of programmes over the last ten years with famous people talking about their experiences of depression, bipolar disorder (including with psychosis), panic disorder, OCD, eating disorders, drug addictions, PTSD and more. Sometimes there have even been several programmes with different celebrities talking about the same mental health difficulty even. BBC iPlayer even does a 'Mental Wellbeing Season' when they put the spotlight on a selection of past documentaries from their archive to 'shine a light on mental health issues and how they affect individuals and society today'.
I haven't seen all of these documentaries in their 'season', but the ones I have were very good. I particularly loved 'David Harewood: Psychosis and Me' because psychosis is an experience that too many people misunderstand, judging people who experience psychosis unnecessarily and with an undue harshness. I thought David Harewood did a brilliant job of speaking candidly about something that so many people are scared to discuss (for very understandable reasons).
I'm not saying that one documentary, or a few documentaries, mean that suddenly the public 'understand' what it's like to experience certain mental health conditions. How could this ever be possible? How could anyone ever claim to 'know' what it was like to 'be' another person anyway? However, when a documentary is executed with respect, compassion and holds space for uncertainty, open-endedness and the concept that everyone is affected differently, it can provide an opportunity for people to feel seen.
Lots (but not all) people with mental health problems feel invisible and having a little of their everyday reality reflected on screen can make it easier to be open about their reality (if they would like to). A TV documentary can be a welcome doorway: I watched that programme on BBC about Nadiya Hussain and her panic attacks. I have panic attacks too. When famous people talk, people listen more than they do to non-famous people.
On the topic of representation and why it matters, I made a video with a few thoughts on the importance of hopeful, positive role models:
I am very keen for more documentaries on BPD. The wider the variety of voices, the greater the number of people who will feel seen. In the same breath as asking for more documentaries, I am aware, very aware, why people in the public eye might not want to participate. They may feel like they are airing their dirty laundry and opening themselves up for ridicule. After all, BPD is known to be one of the most stigmatised mental health conditions...if not the most stigmatised. There is a lot of research on this which I have been using to inform my second book.
Too often, people with BPD are seen as not really in need for help because we are far too self-aware and far too intelligent to deserve support...we should just stop behaving like silly little girls, attest some less than helpful professionals. Horrendous misogyny is rife: disdain, even loathing, towards women who show unrestrained emotions and struggle with self-harm when distressed is common. They way women with diagnosis are coded, sometimes subtly and sometimes overtly, as manipulative cry babies is atrocious. For the people who felt safe enough to speak up about their BPD diagnoses, like Nicola Thorpe and Joe Tracini, I am very grateful for their work.
My point is that it's high time that BPD had more air time. I'm sick of it being the poor sister of mental health when so many individuals, especially women, are struggling to access the right support and are feeling alone. I am thinking of you if you are finding it hard to get your needs met right now or if you're feeling isolated. This is not your fault and you deserve support, care, understanding and connection.
Rosie x
Oh, one more thing. I just remembered I did this back in 2020 for BBC Stories with a lovely producer (thank you!). I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would love to see more BBC Stories on the topic so more voices can have their say.
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