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Mental health representations
in the Media
Paul Scates
Dr Andrew Mayers
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Mental health in the Media
Who are we Paul Scates
Dorset Mental Health Forum Time to Change Lived experience of bipolar disorder
Dr Andy Mayers Senior lecturer in psychology BU Specialising in mental health
What are we doing here today? Looking at how the ‘Media’ represents mental health
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Mental health in the Media
Types of media Newspapers – printed or online TV, film and radio Social media (Twitter, Facebook…) Corporate PR and media image Internet blogs
How is mental health represented in UK? How do other countries compare? What can WE do to improve mental health in the media?
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Your perceptions of mental health in the Media
Take a moment to write down some words or phrases that you associate with mental health
We will now look at some examples of MH reporting…
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Front page news, published 07.10.13
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The Sun article
What messages are conveyed by headlines like these? What perception will readers have about mental illness? Has the Editor read mental health reporting guidelines? What was wrong with this article?
So, how did other newspapers respond? Are they better at reporting mental health?
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In response to The Sun…
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Daily Telegraph response
Some good use of figures, countering The Sun’s claims “Far from saving lives, the Sun's campaign could put
more in danger” Was this a better example of positive reporting?
Maybe, but it was a little light on detail Even so, can we put more faith in the Daily Telegraph? Do they set a better model?
This is what they printed just a few days beforehand…
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Daily Telegraph, a few days earlier
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Response elsewhere
This is what The Guardian said later that day
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The Guardian’s response
More in-depth analysis
Quotes from several sources
Graphical displays
Quotes from Time to Change
And, finished with these key points:
“How would you want to see us reporting on mental health?”
“What do you think the data says?”
“If you are worried about a mental health issue, contact the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 or your GP”
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Here’s what Time to Change said
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What about corporate responsibility?
Should major companies be more empathic about mental illness? Why?
The recent Halloween costumes at Asda and Tesco are prime examples
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Public perception
Does this reinforce a stigmatised image or is it just harmless fun?
How did the UK public react? Twitter is a good example of how social media reflects
trends Hundred’s of people tweeted their reaction Indeed, many sources suggest that it was the Twitter
storm that put pressure on Asda to withdraw and donate £25k to Mind
Many people (with lived experience) posted their own images
‘My mental health costume…’
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Real mental health costume
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Public perception, USA
But how was similar adverts perceived in USA? One example tweeted by Mental Health Association in
Portland, Oregan Asked whether there had been a media storm in response They said it had not When asked why, this is what they said…
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Public perception, USA
What about examples of mainstream US reporting…
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USA mainstream newspaper
Good article. A little short, but well-written and fair But how did the US public respond…
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Public perception, USA
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Your perceptions of mental health in the Media
How would you report a mental health issue if asked by an editor?
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Time to change guidelines
Here are the Time to Change guidelines to the Media… http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/news-media/media-
advisory-service/help-journalists
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Too much of a good thing?
But all we seem to see these days is famous people talking about mental health
Does this detract from the message and just make it trendy?
The Daily Mail thought so…
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Television and celebrities
Do TV programmes with celebrities talking about mental health help?
Examples… BBC3 series (Don’t call me crazy) Had great links to MH information
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01b3s86 Frank Bruno, featuring Paul Scates
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01czdy3 But did programme portray Frank fairly?
Channel 4 – Four goes mad World’s Maddest Interview Ruby Wax Jon Richardson: A Little Bit OCD
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Summary and conclusion
Is the British media in a good place on mental health? What else do we do need to?
Questions?
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Summary and conclusion
Contacts Paul Scates
[email protected] www.dorsetmentalhealthforum.org.uk/ Twitter @paulscates
Andy Mayers [email protected] www.andrewmayers.info Twitter @DrAndyMayers
