eesh. nickelodeon.

[mopinko]

got this this morning from
Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation-


Nickelodeon's "iCarly" Stigmatizes Mental Illness

Dear Mo,

I want to make you aware of the upcoming episode of Nickelodeon's popular adolescent show, iCarly. The August 13th episode is entitled "I Lost My Mind." The character Sam kisses a boy she hates, so she assumes she has "lost her mind" and checks herself into a "mental hospital." While there, she "finger-paints." Her friends try to "break her out." The promo suggests their plan is "crazy" and "insane." This characterization is beyond the pale. It will stigmatize kids seeking needed care, causing greater suffering and potentially even deaths. You can read more in my blog.

Our 2009 nationwide survey shows that over 60% of the children of respondents have been hospitalized at least once and nearly 40% have had multiple hospitalizations. These families find "the joke" no laughing matter.

Please join me in protesting this offensive programming for our children. The only way we stop this is to voice our opinions. You can contact Nickelodeon's parent company, Viacom, here. (my note-doesn't seem to be an option for individual input. i used press inquiry.)

Have a nice weekend, and keep your kids away from Nick's iCarly tomorrow night.

Best regards,

Susan Resko
Executive Director

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my message
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icarly-
as the parent of a child with a mental illness, i beg you to reconsider your upcoming episode of the show icarly involving the plot line of "going crazy". it is not that i am humorless, and think some things should be beyond humor. indeed, there is much to laugh about in such real circumstances, and the humor of parents who have been through it all has saved my life.
but the real distortions in what a "mental hospital" is like, what happens there, and how you get there do a great disservice to those who have been through it in real life.
there is likely much humor to be found in a more fact based approach, which would go a long way to smoothing the way for the real children who must make this perilous journey.
don't be evil.

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