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Unanimous: All Thumbs Down
"This isn't a game, it's psychological warfare,"
said Richard on April 5, 2006, at the end of the third episode
of Unanimous, a Fox-TV "reality show" in which contestants
living in an underground bunker need to agree who should receive
$1.5 million. So far, the money has been cut in half, because
they can't.
The show also represents blatant, irresponsible exploitation
of stigma. In the second episode, Richard became an "outcast"
after it was revealed that he once was hospitalized on "a
mental ward" (apparently for alcoholism or depression).
The show's Web site asks: "Has Richard driven everyone
crazy?" It also advertises the show's commercial sponsor:
Burger King.
Let's tell Fox-TV and Burger King to stop the stigma. Stop
exploiting prejudice against mental illness. Stop spreading
stigma on Unanimous or any other show. Support the Surgeon
General's campaign against stigma. Stigma is a barrier to
people getting help when they need it.
For additional information please visit the NAMI web site
at www.nami.org
or email smarch@nami.org.
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