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Amber Heard And Britney Spears Highlight The Stigma Of Women’s Mental Illness

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12 months ago

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The mental health of prominent women has faced particularly egregious public backbiting and scrutiny. This spring millions of online viewers tuned in to a multiweek defamation trial between Amber Heard and her former husband Johnny Depp. The trial was used as fodder in social media posts that sought to portray Heard as “unstable,” and it included direct speculation on her mental health by a forensic psychologist called by Depp’s team. The outcome of the case did not matter. When it comes to stigma and career, the costs and damage for a woman weigh heavily if she is typecast with mental illness, cannot be undone.

Women face pervasive bias, discrimination, and unrealistic expectations, even regarding their emotional well-being. They need to be seen as holding everything together. They need to succeed in their careers, maintain likability, serve as doting mothers, and so on—all while performing their jobs with greater competence and modesty than their male counterparts. Female actors, singers and other celebrities carry the additional burden of societal prescriptions to simultaneously be sexy and innocent. This bind is impossible to negotiate, and there are significant mental health costs of having to do so.

Society can easily weaponize the mental well-being of high-profile women, as Heard’s case shows. In other instances, this scrutiny has even cost some women their basic autonomy. Take the example of iconic pop star Britney Spears. Images of a “crazy” Spears first appeared more than 15 years ago, when she grabbed a pair of clippers at a beauty salon and shaved her head within view of the paparazzi. Sensationalist criticism followed: Could she no longer perform her job, be a parent to her children, or manage her own finances? Had she lost her mental capacity altogether? A court commissioner soon placed her into a conservatorship run by her father, James Spears, and only in late 2021 did a judge free her from this hold. The idea that a multimillionaire professional at age 40 could not manage her personal affairs (including her own reproductive rights) seems utterly misguided.

Other female celebrities have faced criticism about their mental health struggles. After pop star Selena Gomez shared her experiences with depression and panic attacks, members of the media mocked her and commented on the cruelty she faced. Singer and actress Lady Gaga championed mental health rights by sharing her own difficulties with post-traumatic stress disorder, noting that coming out about her mental health issues was a controversial experience that exposed her to the public eye. Mental health diagnoses are still heavily laden with deeply entrenched stigma, even though severe clinical disorders are common, and many people recover or manage them successfully,

The coverage of women’s mental health stands in stark contrast to the way famous men are depicted in the media. Kanye West has bipolar disorder, and Jim Carrey has suffered from depression, and no judge put them into conservatorship. At times, such men have even received praise for how their mental illness made them stand out from other artists. Pop culture has sometimes romanticized the mental illnesses of male painters, novelists and composers, from Ernest Hemingway to David Foster Wallace, as essential to their genius. Female celebrities confront a different reality: they must meet the impossible expectations of needing to be compassionate and competitive while seamlessly projecting a sexual persona. The resultant internalization and feelings of helplessness can only damage mental health. One of us (Hinshaw) made this case clearly in The Triple Bind,

Sensationalizing mental health difficulties in a high-profile woman perpetuates the view that she is inadequate and incompetent, and that these shortcomings affect their craft. It fundamentally devalues ​​and stigmatizes her. Importantly, society and courts continue to perceive women as unreliable reporters,overly dramatic, less competent and less “logical” than men, Using mental health as a weapon gives people with power an avenue to say, “She is lying.”

Despite increased public awareness of mental illness, the stigma remains strong, particularly for women. As Hinshaw has argued in The Mark of Shame and Another Kind of Madness, many people denigrate behaviors perceived as irrational—and this is particularly so for women. After all, if unpopular or “deviant” behaviors are the product of a mental illness, then any social or political value they must carry, by definition, be irrational and discountable.

Women who experience mental disorders are more likely than men to show “self-stigma”—internalizing the idea that they are flawed and not deserving of evidence-based treatment. These biases start early. Adolescent girls are subject to a cascade of simultaneous and often conflicting stressors—a veritable unreasonable bindof elevated expectations.

It is any wonder that rates of binge eating, depression, anxiety, attempted suicide and nonsuicidal self-injury—cutting—continue to rise, especially in teen girls and women? Discussions about mental health stigma have increased over the past few years, and one of us (Gruber) started a free online course called #talkmentalillness to combat it. But not enough attention has been paid to how this stigma interacts with gender. Do girls and women pay a higher price, losing more opportunities and even freedoms in both their professional and personal lives? Too often, such issues are discounted as personal weakness or feminine “attention-seeking” rather than the subject of clinical and public-health concern.

Society’s captivation with women’s mental health challenges—and the shocking losses of both personal and professional freedoms and reputational damage some women have experienced as a result—should open our eyes to the enduring stigma and weight of mental illness for girls and women. It’s time for discussions of mental health stigma to acknowledge and address this double standard so that women like Heard and Spears are considered brave over disturbed for standing up to abuse, and women and girls can obtain the support and treatments they need without the looming fear that their lives will be destroyed if they do so.

This is an opinion and analysis article, and the views expressed by the author or authors are not necessarily those of Scientific American.

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New Report Says Jamie Foxx Is Learning To Walk Again Amid Mystery Health Issue. His Daughter Says He Was Playing Pickleball

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13 hours ago

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June 7, 2023

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It’s been nearly two months since Jamie Foxx’s family revealed that the Oscar-winning actor had been hospitalized due to a “medical complication” suffered on the set of his upcoming Netflix movie Back in Action, co-starring Cameron Diaz. Providing the most recent update on his health, his eldest daughter Corinne Foxx, had taken to social media to address the situation, saying her father was doing well and even engaging in activities like playing pickleball. Although in a new exclusive report, an insider claims the actor is currently undergoing intense physiotherapy to aid his recovery and regain his mobility.

While the true extent of the Soul star’s health condition remains shrouded in mystery, allegedly the 55-year-old actor has been facing mobility struggles since the incident on April 11 while filming in Atlanta. An insider told RadarOnline that Jamie is receiving treatment at one of the top physical rehabilitation centers specializing in stroke, brain, and spinal cord injuries. The insider told the publication:

“Jamie is receiving treatment at one of the top physical rehabilitation centers in the country. The clinic specializes in physical therapy programs to treat injuries or a physical condition that limits or prohibits the ability to walk or walk correctly. They teach people how to walk again at this particular clinic”.

In a post shared on Instagram in May, Corinne addressed the media coverage surrounding her father’s condition. She had shared a post from RapTV, which has since been deleted, claiming that the actor’s loved ones were “preparing for the worst.” However, she said these claims were erroneous and clarified that her dad had been out of the hospital for “weeks” and was recuperating. Now the unnamed source told RadarOnline that the actor’s condition is a bit more serious, continuing:

“Jamie would not be at this clinic if he was not impaired in some way as a result of whatever happened to him. But fans should rest assured: Jamie is in the best of care at this type of clinic”.

Foxx and his family have chosen to remain relatively silent about the nature of his recent health complications while appreciating the outpouring of love and support from fans and friends. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 actor briefly addressed the situation on social media on May 3, expressing his gratitude for the love he received.

Following the Django Unchained performer’s hospitalization, reports revealed that two of his ongoing projects, namely Back In Action and Beat Shazam, have resumed production in his absence. Back In Action is an action comedy for Netflix, while Beat Shazam is a game show where the Collateral star serves as the host alongside his daughter, Corinne Foxx, who acts as the show’s DJ. With Jamie’s blessing, Nick Cannon has taken over hosting duties for the game show.

We will likely hear from Jamie Foxx soon, with numerous exciting flicks set to hit the 2023 movie release schedule. Among his many upcoming projects, the Ray star is set to star in various action films, including God Is A Bullet alongside Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Maika Monroe, as well as Tin Soldier featuring Robert De Niro and Scott Eastwood, both slated for release this summer. Furthermore, he will be seen in the Netflix comedy They Cloned Tyrone alongside John Boyega, and he has also lent his voice to the R-rated talking-dog comedy Strays.

Jamie Foxx’s return to the screen is highly anticipated. Whether he’s enjoying a game of pickleball or continuing his rehabilitation, we hope the actor continues to prioritize his recovery. Given his ability to captivate viewers with his talent, and versatility, a successful recovery will assure audiences they can look forward to experiencing his exceptional performances for many years to come. Having so many upcoming 2023 roles, it’s great news to hear his recovery is in good hands following his recent health scare.

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Jamie Foxx will address fans ‘when he’s ready’ following mystery illness, Nick Cannon says

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2 days ago

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June 5, 2023

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Cannon took over for Foxx as a guest host of the musical game show "Beat Shazam" after the 55-year-old was hospitalized in April. (Getty)

Nick Cannon said he believes Jamie Foxx will update fans on the health scare that sent him to the hospital in April “when he’s ready.”

“One thing I’ve always respected about how Jamie’s moved throughout his entire career, if you’ve noticed, he’s always been somebody who is extremely professional and extremely private,” Cannon told “Extra’s” Billy Bush.

“I mean, you don’t ever really hear anything other than just the great work that he puts forth as a professional and the fact that, you know, he’s handled this situation with the same manner, you only can respect that,” said Cannon.

He went on to add, “I believe when he’s ready, he’s going to address the awaiting fans in the world [about his health scare] the way that only he can.”

During the interview, Bush asked Cannon about reports that Foxx suffered a stroke and if he could give an update on his condition. Foxx’s family has not disclosed his medical condition.

“I’m probably in the same boat as you in that same sense of just knowing that, you know, as a friend, just being as respectful as I can, I don’t pry,” Cannon answered. “I don’t ask any other questions. And other than the information that’s given to me and, you know, what’s asked of me.”

He said the information that his family has put out “is the information that they want to be out there.”

“I was definitely one of those people initially with like the heavy-handed prayers… sending positive energy, love, and prayers,” he added. “And they were like, ‘Yo, we appreciate all of that, but we got it.’ And, you know, Jamie’s happy with the job that I did on ‘Beat Shazam.’”

Cannon took over for Foxx as guest host of the musical game show “Beat Shazam” after the 55-year-old was hospitalized in April. Kelly Osbourne took over as deejay for Foxx’s daughter Corinne.

Foxx broke his silence at the end of April, writing on Instagram, “Appreciate all the love!!! Feeling blessed.”

In mid-May, his daughter Corinne Foxx gave an update on Foxx’s condition, writing on her Instagram story at the time that her father has been “out of the hospital for weeks” and is “recuperating” – and even playing pickleball.

In a since-deleted Instagram post, Corinne shared on April 12 that her father experienced a “medical complication” the day before, and “quick action and great care” helped guide him toward recovery last month.

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Nick Cannon urges for patience from fans over Jamie Foxx’s health condition report

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4 days ago

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June 4, 2023

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Amongst the many friends Jamie Foxx has in the entertainment industry, Nick Cannon is one of his closest ones. During this difficult health scare situation the actor has gone through, Cannon has made a public statement during an interview with the folks from Extra TV. He wanted to send a calming message to all fans who want to know what exactly happened to Jamie. Many different versions of what happened have emerged, some of them are quite conspiratorial, to say the least. But dropping information or statements from any source is hardly responsible, especially if these people who make such statements have an agenda.

Last Thursday, sme news of Jamie Foxx going blind due to taking the COVID-19 vaccine started circulating online but it came from a known anti-vaxxer. Until we get information from Jamie Foxx himself, there is no reason to post misleading information that will only get people even more worried than they already are. Nick Cannon wanted to send these people who worry a message and also to those who try to push their narrative by using this unfortunate event. As we expected, Cannon asked for patience and for better judgement when we are trying to find out what happened to Jamie. This is great advice from someone who actually has contact with the actor and his family.

Nick Cannon’s statement on Jamie Foxx’s health

Cannon said: “One thing I’ve always respected about how Jamie’s moved throughout his entire career, if you’ve noticed, he’s always been somebody who is extremely professional and extremely private. I mean, you don’t ever really hear anything other than just the great work that he puts forth as a professional and the fact that, you know, he’s handled this situation with the same manner, you only can respect that.

“I believe when he’s ready, he’s going to address the awaiting fans in the world [about his health scare] the way that only he can. I’m probably in the same boat as you in that same sense of just knowing that, you know, as a friend, just being as respectful as I can, I don’t pry. I don’t ask any other questions. And other than the information that’s given to me and, you know, what’s asked of me.“

 

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