Malcolm X, a human rights activist, once said: “The media is the most powerful entity on Earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and the guilty innocent, and that is power. Because they control the minds of the masses. Through numerous studies and research, it has become clear that the media has a significant impact on society and its perception. This applies to all subjects, but especially to questions that are difficult for the general public to deal with. For example, our view of government and social institutions is based largely on media reports, not our own experiences. The subject of mental disorders is particularly difficult for the general public to approach or experience directly. This makes the media's portrayal of them the primary source of information about mental disorders, and these portrayals affect the media's perceptions of the mentally ill and mental health practitioners. Unfortunately, the media does not always present the subject of mental disorders in a positive light. There are many examples depicting mentally ill people as violent and dangerous. These create negative misconceptions about mental disorders and cause discrimination and stigmatization of people with mental disorders as well as the community that works to help them. This essay will discuss the consequences of media portrayal of mental disorders by highlighting how mass media is the public's primary source of information, observing how the media portrays mental disorders through examples and their effects, and highlighting the negative consequences that the portrayal of mental disorders in the media has on the mentally ill and mental health practices.... ... middle of paper ...... illness and mental health practitioners. The fact that mental illnesses are commonly demeaned and ridiculed supports this notion. To some, this may not seem like a serious problem. However, it was concluded that a negative consensus formed by misconceptions and stereotypes created by inaccurate reporting and exaggerated portrayals can condone discrimination against the mentally ill and even affect measures taken by governments to support communities that work for the mentally ill. As a society, we have an obligation to spread positive images of the mentally ill and to fight to present them, and mental health practitioners, in a more optimistic light. It is important that the public has easier access to accurate information about mental disorders and that they fully understand what they can do for the mentally ill...