With contestants lined up on the lawn of a grand house and looking as if they
mean business, the opening sequence of Horizon: How Mad Are You? could be
mistaken for The Apprentice. But the 10 "contestants" in the BBC2 programme
aren't competing for prizes. They are willingly being scrutinised by psychiatric
professionals who have to spot which five have a diagnosed mental illness.
Three professionals observe the group over a number of days, during which
they complete tasks designed to expose signs of mental illness. One task
involves performing stand-up comedy so the professionals can detect anxiety
disorders. It makes for interesting viewing as the professionals struggle to
pinpoint those with a condition and are frequently prompted to question their
own "clinical intuition". The premise is that viewers are encouraged to question
their own notions of mental illness and to recognise the effects of stigma.
At the end of the first episode, misconceptions are challenged when someone
the professionals are certain has no history of mental illness reveals they have
a psychiatric condition.
The programme is likely to raise many questions about how mental illness is
diagnosed. And by reminding the public that even professionals get it wrong, it
may offer a boost for people who have been judged because of their
condition.
• How Mad Are You? is on BBC2 at 9pm on November 11 and 18. Details at bbc.co.uk/headroom
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