Schizophrenia Daily News Blog

TV Show "House" Helps NAMI

"Everybody Lies" is the well-known warning of the television character, Dr. Gregory House, played by Hugh Laurie, the star of the hit TV show, "HOUSE".

Now, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has announced that the show's producers and cast members, along with the famous slogan, will benefit the organization and its work in education, support, and advocacy for individuals and families affected by mental illness.

For a limited time, T-shirts from the show, emblazoned with the phrase "Everybody Lies," are being sold on-line. Says HOUSE executive producer Katie Jacobs:

"Mental illness is stigmatized and misunderstood in our society, and we’re trying to do something about that. We’re very fortunate to be celebrating an extremely successful third season for HOUSE, and we’d like to give something back to a cause we feel is both worthy and overlooked."

The TV show, in the course of showing Dr. House attempting to diagnose illnesses with hallucinatory or psychotic symptoms, has helped educate the public about the medical nature of many psychiatric symptoms including mood and personality changes. These diagnoses have included herpes encephalitis, syphilis, hypercortisolism (Cushing's), Wilson's disease, hemochromatosis, and Korsakoff's syndrome (vitamin B1 deficiency).

"Everybody Lies" conveys a message about stigma, false perceptions and misinformation about mental illness. In the TV show, the phrase represents that people who are being diagnosed with ANY illness often withhold information. In a time when it seems that Hollywood has been indifferent to, or even has propagated, stigma about mental illness, it is refreshing that the producers and cast of a TV show are helping to combat that.

NAMI executive director Mike Fitzpatrick says, "On behalf of every individual and family who live with major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other mental illnesses, NAMI thanks the show and cast. They are making a difference in people's lives."

In addition to the sale of the T-shirts, an on-line auction is running for seven days (1 May 2007 through 7 May 2007) to sell five special autographed items. All proceeds go to NAMI.

Thanks goes to Doe for bringing this to our attention.

Read the NAMI article with cast photographs and links: HOUSE Calls for NAMI