When is a Joke NOT "Just a Joke" ?

Ralph and Edna were both patients in a mental hospital. One day while they were walking past the hospital swimming pool, Ralph suddenly jumped into the deep end. He sank to the bottom of the pool and stayed there.

Edna promptly jumped in to save him. She swam to the bottom and pulled him out.

When the Head Nurse and Director became aware of Edna's heroic act, she immediately ordered her to be discharged from the hospital, as she is now considered her to be mentally stable.

When she went to tell Edna the news she said, "Edna, I have good news and bad news. The good news is you're being discharged, since you were able to rationally respond to a crisis by jumping in and saving the life of the person you love. I have concluded that your act displays sound mindedness."

"The bad news is that Ralph hung himself in the bathroom with his bathrobe belt right after you saved him. I am so sorry, but he's dead."

Edna's response: "He didn't hang himself, I put him there to dry. How soon can I go home?"

Okay...did you laugh? I have to admit that at first blush it made me smile. However, it quickly sunk-in that this joke not only makes fun of mentally ill people, but perpetuates mythology that has harmed people living with disabilities for decades. It portrays mentally ill people as stupid, unfeeling and violent, and when you consider that this joke makes light of serious issues such as suicide and murder, you must realize that the humor is lost. Jokes such as this one contributes to the stigmatization of those who live with mental illness.

This joke was posted to a local email list of which I am a member. When another member of the list pointed out the inappropriateness of the humor, the backlash from other members was astounding.

"Oh come on - have a sense of humor - IT WAS FUNNY !!!" The consensus of those who responded to the joke was that it was harmless ("it's only a joke"), funny and that those who criticized the joke are either too sensitive, bending to 'political correctness,' or simply don't have a sense of humor.

The truth is that most don't understand the consequences of making light of mental illness or distort the reality of those who live with the disease.

There is little doubt that mental illness effects us. The facts are that mental illness is pervasive throughout the country (it effects about 1 in 5 American families). If left untreated it causes tremendous pain, disability, unemployment, homelessness, substance abuse, and it is estimated that it costs the U.S. more than $100 billion per year.

And why are those living with mental illness being under-treated? Stigma. Stigma makes those who suffer the illness to retreat from proper mental health care fearing that they will be stigmatized even more. Stigma stops insurance companies from providing equitable coverage for treatment of mental illness.

From the Mental Health Education Resource Centre -- Canadian Mental Health Association:

What is Stigma?

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stig'ma noun(pl~s or ~ta)

1. brand, stain, blemish, defect, a scar - a mark of shame or discredit

Stigma is the use of negative labels to identify a person living with mental illness. It is about disrespect and keeps mental illness in the closet. Stigma is a barrier and discourages individuals and their families from getting the help they need. It closes minds and fuels discrimination. Many say that living with the stigma is worse than living with the illness itself.

While the joke may seem harmless, it contributes to the stigmatization of mental illness and those who live with it. People with mental disorders continue to experience prejudice and discrimination in every area of their lives, from finding somewhere to live to getting a job. It’s hardly surprising that many people with serious mental illness end up poor or homeless.

We have a moral responsibility to stamp-out prejudice surrounding mental illness and can do so with education -- by pointing out when those who are mentally ill are negatively portrayed in the media and in our every day lives.

May Jesus protect those who are emotionally and mentally disabled, and may He grant all of us wisdom and courage in how we treat those who suffer from illness.

Peace.