CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

Ann Arbor psychiatrist joins Comic Con to talk pop culture, mental health

Detroit Free Press - 7/23/2020

Here's some encouraging news for anyone who's feeling unsettled and anxious right about now -- and, in 2020, that covers nearly everybody.

Those shared streaming experiences you've been discussing endlessly on social media, like ESPN'sMichael Jordan documentary, the Disney Plus premiere of the "Hamilton" movie, and, yes, Netflix's notorious "Tiger King"?

They're pretty good as stress relievers.

"It's been a very stressful time, and so I think people have enjoyed having these little moments where they can escape reality, frankly," said forensic psychiatrist Vasilis Pozios of Ann Arbor. "And I think that's what entertainment at its best is really about, escaping into a fantasy world where you can safely take a break from the stresses of the world and then take something away from it that is positive."

Pozios is participating in "'Crazy Talk:' Mental Health, Pop Culture and the Pandemic," a a panel at this year's San Diego Comic Con that premieres at 11 a.m. Friday on YouTube.

The annual event is now underway, but not in its usual manner. With California experiencing a surge in the coronavirus, Comic Con is being held online and for free through Sunday via a YouTube channel. Fans can join the virtual gathering through more than 350 panels featuring stars, creators and experts in the arenas of TV, movies, gaming and comic books.

The panel featuring Pozios asks a question that seems more important every day. As its Comic Con description puts it, "Can pop culture help promote mental wellness during the COVID-19 pandemic, or is that just "crazy" talk?"

Joining the southeast Michigan psychiatrist will be Heather Antos (senior editor for Valian and Image comics), Bryan Edward Hill (a writer for DC Comics' "Batman" and "The Outsiders"), Joseph Illidge (comic book veteran and executive editor of Heavy Metal sci-fi/comics magazine), Patrick Tatopoulous (production designer for "Batman v Superman" and "Justice League") and psychiatrist Praveen Kambam.

Pozios and Kamban are co-founders of Broadcast Thought, which provides media and entertainment consulting on topics and themes relating to mental health. They have become a resource for encouraging more accurate portrayals and public perceptions of mental illness and mental health issues.

As an expert who is also a fan of pop culture, Pozios has been appearing at Comic Con for about a decade. This year, he says, the virtual gathering exemplifies how people can still "engage and share our love of pop culture" even with social distancing and limitations on public gatherings.

Although he acknowledges social media's not-so-good, divisive aspects, he sees a positive side to its ability to connect fan communities and give them a forum for expressing their ideas.

As an example, he cites the online #ReleaseTheSnyderCut campaign that spurred Warner Bros. to announce in May that it will release director Zack Snyder's revamped version of the 2018 movie "Justice League." Zack Snyder originally led the project, but had to leave during post-production after his daughter's suicide. He was replaced by Joss Whedon.

"Overwhelmingly, I think it's been a positive experience in terms of supporting an artist's work and also trying to raise awareness for suicide prevention, which I think is a very important thing to do, especially in the context of Zack Snyder's own personal story," Pozios said.

"I think that is an example of something where social media enabled a community to grow and achieve something people didn't think was possible."

Pozios also points to online activities like the home edition challenge of SyFy's "Face Off" reality competition that Tatopoulos' wife, makeup artist McKenzie Westmore, led on Instagram "as a way to give people something to look forward to, frankly, during the pandemic and while they're isolating at home and to share it with people across the world."

As for portraying mental health issues in meaningful ways, Pozios praises Mindy Kaling's new Netflix series, "Never Have I Ever," for its depiction of the main character, a teenager named Devi, who is seeing a therapist.

"That's been fantastic," he said. "We should encourage more media that normalizes mental health treatment and doesn't stigmatize people with mental illnesses."

Pozios says Broadcast Thought was born out of a desire to see more realistic images and discussions of mental illness in movies, TV and other pop-culture mediums, which often stick to negative stereotypes.

Regarding the types of entertainment are being consumed these days, Pozios says some people will gravitate toward distracting comedies or superhero stories, while others will want pandemic-linked content like Stephen King's novel "The Stand" or documentaries about the 1918 flu pandemic.

Either choice is OK, in reasonable doses.

"As long as there's some balance in your life, that's perfectly normal. I can tell you, personally, my wife, all she wanted to do initially was watch pandemic-related shows on Netflix, and I just wanted to watch 'Tiger King,' " Pozios said with a laugh. "It varies from person to person obviously."

As for all those cable news and web updates on COVID-19? Avoid binging, according to Pozios.

"Consume your media in moderation. Make sure that you take breaks form the news … It's good to be informed. You should be informed. But constantly consuming the news when the overwhelming majority of it is really not positive stuff can be really draining. It is important to be mindful of that, to limit your intake of things that could potentially contribute to your anxiety or a negative outlook on life."

And, yes, it's fine to do a little virtual venting.

Says Pozios, "That's what's great about online communities. If you're among people you feel connected to, you can certainly share your frustrations, your hopes and your fears."

Contact Detroit Free Press pop culture critic Julie Hinds at jhinds@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ann Arbor psychiatrist joins Comic Con to talk pop culture, mental health

___

(c)2020 the Detroit Free Press

Visit the Detroit Free Press at www.freep.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.