mental health representations in the media paul scates dr andrew mayers

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

paulscates@dorsetmentalhealthforum.org.uk www.dorsetmentalhealthforum.org.uk/ Twitter @paulscates

Andy Mayers amayers@bournemouth.ac.uk www.andrewmayers.info Twitter @DrAndyMayers