‘Modern Family’ episode riles up mental health advocates

ABC’s Modern Family’s rebroadcast of a Halloween special has a group of advocates calling the network’s actions callous and cruel.

The show has an “insane asylum” theme where Phil (Ty Burrell) turns the house into “AwesomeLand!” for a neighborhood contest. Claire (Julie Bowen) is dressed as a nurse and the children wear patient costumes. The episode first aired in 2014.

Some mental health advocates say the episode is a disservice to people who suffer mental illness.

“Stigmatizing, stereotyped portrayals of this nature contribute to an ongoing public health crisis that prevents people from seeking the treatment they need,” said Mary Giliberti, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI.

“In the case of ‘AwesomeLand,’ ABC is the bully, not caring about the impact that the episode will have on many children and teens living with mental health conditions…,” said Giliberti.

Viewers who shared their thoughts on KVIA’s Facebook page didn’t see anything wrong with the show.

” I found the episode humorous…. If you don’t like it don’t watch. Its Halloween, its all about fun!!!!!,” said Harry Day.

Joe Del Rey wrote, ” I’m watching it right now, and no, my opinion hasn’t changed. It’s just a Halloween episode. If they want to nit pick on things that shed a negative light on mental illness, how about they go do it on Haunted houses. Most of them use an asylum theme. Like I said, people need to lighten up.”

“It’s only a show, why make a big deal,” said Julie Barrios.

The show’s plot made reference to the Dunphy’s neighbor who, at one point, purported to have had treatment for a mental illness.

“Amber spent 6 months in the kook-koo farm in Nevada,” said the neighbor. “I’ll give her a box of Cap’n Crunch and sit her in front of the fish bowl, that seems to calm her down.”

Viewer Joe Del Rey asked on Facebook, “Exactly how is the episode discouraging people from getting help? I just don’t get it.”

AJ Stanich chimed in saying, ” Or maybe it’s just a television show and parents should teach children to do what is necessary when it is necessary… Television doesn’t teach children things, parents teach children things. Everybody needs to find something to be offended by and it’s not healthy for kids to grow up in this mindset.”

On a local level, Clemencia Prieto, President of board of directors for the National Alliance on Mental Illness told ABC-7 it was disappointing the episode was re-aired.

“When you see mental health being diminished, being stigmatized in the manner that it was done in the show it makes me feel very sad,” said Prieto.

Prieto said the show can do more harm than good, especially for those dealing with mental illness.

“They see themselves stereotyped or a roll playing them in a such a negative way. That makes them feel worse. They don’t feel that they are welcomed in the workplace and in social settings so they retract from being part of the community,” said Prieto.

Prieto adds shows mocking the mentally ill also has affects on society as a whole.

“We desensitize ourselves and we take away the compassion that needs to be part of us. We need to be respectful of people regardless,” said Prieto.

Prieto told ABC-7 in this day an age, 1 in 5 people suffer from a mental illness and it’s not a laughing matter.

“We don’t usually use the N-word anymore, we don’t make fun of people with HIV or AIDS why should we continue to make fun and use derogatory comments towards people that without any fault of their own have a mental health condition,” said Prieto.

If you are interested in what the National Alliance on Mental Illness provides

here is a link to their website:

http://namielpaso.org/