We, the undersigned Star Wars fans are signing this petition to ask that Disney Lucasfilm recognize that the character of Anakin Skywalker had PTSD or C-PTSD (Complex- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) as a result of his childhood enslavement alongside being subject and witness to violence and abuse from a young age.

As well as later and persistent trauma of losing family members to violence, losing positive influences in his life and close friends, as well as being forced to take a commanding role in a war at the age of 19.

We believe in this cause for the following reasons:

• For many years fans who are neurodivergent or have  conditions such as PTSD or BPD have identified with and related to Anakin.
• He provided us with a rare and refreshing example of a realistic and positive (or at least sympathetic) depiction of a person with these conditions in popular media.

However, both in the past and in recent years, it has been noted that Anakin and other neurodivergent presenting protaganists have been attracted negative attention by fans, who espouse ableist stereotypes.

These include the idea that: 

• Anakin/other male leads who cry or show emotion "too much" are "whiny crybabies" and not masculine enough.
• Attributing the symptoms of PTSD to his character/other characters simply being "selfish" or "immoral"
• Denial of his condition
• The implication that people with mental health issues should "cure themselves" through a practice or action favoured by fandom eg. meditation, mindfullness, or just being "mentally strong". 
• The implication that if they cannot cure themselves they "don't want help" or there is something "wrong" with them.
• Labelling Anakin's character as "just an evil pyschopath" who enjoys killing.

All of this beliefs and attitudes, prevalent in Star Wars fandom have troubling real-life implications and have parallels with ableist ideas which result in prejudice and discrimination against the disabled, the mentally ill, and the neurodivergent.

We believe that the lack of clarity in relation to these conditions as they are depicted in Star Wars is part of the reason for this, as well as the unfortunate and wrongful association of the "dark side" with mental illness.

People with PTSD trauma victims, and mental health conditions have traditionally been labelled as "evil" and "dangerous" and "violent", resulting in males in particular being reluctant to seek help for fear of stigma.

Clarity in regards to his condition and some of the behaviours related to it will do much to abolish stigma and refute ableist stereotypes. If fandom understands that Anakin has PTSD or BPD it will go some way towards promoting understanding and compassion for people with mental illness and our portrayal on screen.

As long as it is believed his only problem is that he is selfish/evil and doesn't have trauma, these harmful stereotypes and ableist attitudes will continue to flourish.

Disney have recently announced that Obi Wan Kenobi will be "struggling with depression and PTSD" in the upcoming series, and we ask for a similar pronouncement in relation to Anakin.