Depictions of Queer Mental Health by Grok-2

Mental health disorders have long been stigmatized by society, with historical attributions to supernatural causes and, more recently, persistent biases against marginalized groups. This stigmatization continues to hinder care-seeking behavior and negatively affects health outcomes, particularly for LGBTQ+ individuals whose identities have been pathologized in diagnostic criteria. Media representations of mental illness, such as the controversial portrayal of suicide in "13 Reasons Why," have been linked to real-world harm, emphasizing the influence of imagery on public perception. With the rise of image-generating AI models, the portrayal of mental health symptoms may either perpetuate existing stereotypes or serve as a tool to reduce stigma. This study explores how the AI model Grok-2 visualizes various mental health symptoms both in isolation and when contextualized with specific demographic information, revealing potential biases in depiction. Through this examination, I aim to understand how AI's portrayal of mental health might impact public perception and stigma, advocating for thoughtful and respectful use of AI in mental health discourse.