Kanye West and the Circus Around Mental Health

Photo by Axel Antas-Bergkvist on Unsplash

Kanye West is an artist, and this is clear upon the release of his new album 'Donda', which is titled after and inspired by his late mother. He has always pushed and tested the boundaries and remained unapologetic about his views, often using his very public platform to engage with fans and the world about them.

Kanye West also has a bipolar disorder, coming out about his diagnosis in 2017. This is a fact that seems to go missing and is often glossed over by the media as an attempt to paint him as insane or 'eccentric'. The media's sensationalised view of West's mental illness is a major issue, one that has been perpetuated time and time again. The media did it with the treatment of Britney Spears during her public nervous breakdown, with the constant barraging of Pete Doherty about his drug addiction, and many more.

There is a danger in the constant encouragement of elusive, manic behaviour which Kanye West clearly depicts. Some of the manic behaviours recently include bringing out homophobic rapper Da Baby and alleged abuser Marilyn Manson on stage as a commentary on 'cancel culture', and tearful breakdowns on stage about the loss of his mother. They show that West appears to be surrounded by everyone he could possibly need but is very alone in reality.

For those of us who struggle with mental illness, the deterioration of Kanye West and his public persona due to his suffering with bipolar disorder is frightening. The lack of awareness on the issue is astounding with publications and other celebrities willing to use West's fame and influence to further their own agenda, whether it be for clicks or an increase in readers.

This exploitation of a man that is unwell is both unethical and dangerous. The glamourised perception of West's mental illness and manic behaviour through the eyes of the media, his fans and his peers are reflective of a society that stigmatises the conversation of mental health but uses mentally ill people to increase their advantages in life.

An article by Nylah Burton for NBC News sums up the treatment of Kanye West superbly:

“Compassion hasn't been the default response. Kanye West has been heavily mocked and criticized — one person even admitted that she went to one of his campaign rallies only to "check out the circus" — with little understanding of how much bipolar disorder affects your life.”

This is a further example of how our society deems people suffering with mental illness as something to find amusement in, which is a view that lacks little empathy and understanding.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention reports that in 2019, men died by suicide three and a half times as often as women, and that there are on average 130 suicides a day. These statistics are evidence of the lack of proper mental health support for those suffering, especially in men.

Kanye West deserves to be helped in a way that is confidential and dignified, instead he is berated and made to be the subject of a joke by many, furthering the view that mental illness is not a very real and serious issue.