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Topic Tuesday **closed**: The media and mental health

CherryBombSenior Contributor

Topic Tuesday **closed**: The media and mental health

Mental illness got a lot of media attention the week just passed during the Mental Health Week. As many of you may have seen it was the ABC's MentalAs week.

So what did you think about how the media reported mental illness? Have you ever wondered about a journalist's role in covering mental illness? What guidelines - if any - do they follow?

This month's Topic Tuesday we will be joined by @Former-Member, ex-ABC journalist, and the current coordinator of Stigma Watch - A SANE Australia project that monitors how mental illness is reported in the media.

This discussion will be opportunity to talk about the role of journalists in reporting mental illness, and it will be an opportunity for @Former-Member to hear your views of the media, which can help her in her role in Stigma Watch.

Join us 7 - 9pm AEST Tuesday, 12 October. Click 'like' if you can make it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WWKXyIXZX0

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In response to: Topic Tuesday **closed**: The media and mental health

Unknown userMember

Re: Topic Tuesday 13/10: The media and mental health

I actually met the two directors of the series recently @chookmojo and I think I was surprised at the level of work that went into making sure the balance was right and that everyone gave consent.

In response to: Topic Tuesday **closed**: The media and mental health

Unknown userMember

Re: Topic Tuesday 13/10: The media and mental health

@CherryBomb if you're interested in guidelines the Mindframe website is a good one to check out. StigmaWatch and SANE are part of this initiative, acting as a call centre for journos with questions- http://www.mindframe-media.info/for-media/reporting-mental-illness

Generally though the advice is for journalists to be mindful of the language and sources they use so that they're not perpetuating stigma or stereotypes.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday 13/10: The media and mental health

CherryBombSenior Contributor

Re: Topic Tuesday 13/10: The media and mental health

Great! So what type of language should be used when reporting on MI @Former-Member? And what can be done if media outlets don't adhere to guidelines?

@chookmojo @kato @Sienna @Jo what are your thoughts on what a 'good' portrayal of mental illness should look? And what should be avoided?

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday 13/10: The media and mental health

chookmojoSenior Contributor

Re: Topic Tuesday 13/10: The media and mental health

I'm wondering if those guidelines apply to advertising as well... I recall that there used to be a LOT of 'Ken Bruce has gone Mad!' type adevrtising campaigns - but I don't think I have much of anything like that lately (been a while since I have watched commercial TV though). Have others noticed a shift in adevrtising?

In response to: Topic Tuesday **closed**: The media and mental health

katoSenior Contributor

Re: Topic Tuesday 13/10: The media and mental health

HI Cherry!!!!!! i know i haven't been good, and i kinda went off and tried being stable lol, i sorta am but still working on things.

I have just noticed in the last 8 months or so, that it seems to be popping up more and more in the news, that anything where someone has done something big wrong, it is straight away reported they suffered from mental illness.....

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday 13/10: The media and mental health

Unknown userMember

Re: Topic Tuesday 13/10: The media and mental health

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday 13/10: The media and mental health

SiennaContributor

Re: Topic Tuesday 13/10: The media and mental health

If you don't mind me asking, do you feel that your experiences make you more sensitive as a journalist?

In response to: Topic Tuesday **closed**: The media and mental health

CannonSaltSenior Contributor

Re: Topic Tuesday 13/10: The media and mental health

@CherryBomb , it's probably the same reason as to why stories about rural Australia are always knitting alpacas or disasters - there isn't the time or expertise to do the stuff that gets eyeballs and the less sensational but still important rural news.

@Former-Member - thanks for joining us. Do you have any tips as a journalist for interpreting articles about MI? How to read them, if you like.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday 13/10: The media and mental health

katoSenior Contributor

Re: Topic Tuesday 13/10: The media and mental health

cherry in all honesty i have no idea, how it should be portrayed and what should be avoided, i am not informed enough to make such comments

In response to: Topic Tuesday **closed**: The media and mental health

Unknown userMember

Re: Topic Tuesday **happening now**: The media and mental health

Language tends to be so difficult... Different groups of people, ages, ethnicity, geo graphical area... Defining what language is going to best to use and not discriminatory is such a varied problem. Even as some people felt the term 'mental as' being wrong perhaps to younger people it grabs attention in a thought provoking way..?
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Back to top
SANE logo
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care NSQDMH Accreditation logo

Help us push aside the stigma and discrimination surrounding complex mental health and change the way people talk about, and care for, mental illness.

Donate Now
Aboriginal flag
Torres Strait Islander flag
LGBT flag
Transgender flag

SANE acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.

SANE values diversity. We are committed to providing a safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive service for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity.

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