to do or not to do: what is the story · account of nancy cheiro’s murder by her son with severe...
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TO DO OR NOT TO DO: WHAT IS THE STORY
Mental Health, Raising
Awareness and the Media
Kathy Turner
Regional Prevention Promotion Partnership Coordinator
for Clackamas, Multnomah & Washington Counties
email: [email protected]
phone: (503) 742-5962
Nina Danielsen
Health Promotion Coordinator
Clackamas County Behavioral Health Division
503-742-5309
Meghan Crane
Suicide Prevention Coordinator
Washington County Public Health Division
503-846-4748
Jonathan Wiggs / The Boston Globe
“STUDIES SHOW THAT PEOPLE WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS ARE NOT MORE PRONE TO
VIOLENCE WHEN THEY GET THE HELP THEY NEED. HOWEVER…”
Account of Nancy Cheiro’s
murder by her son with
severe mental illness:
“With little warning, Lee
lunged at her, knocking her
down the basement
stairs…He pulled out the
knife he carried for
protection and began
stabbing his month in the
eyes…”
“NEW S O RGANI Z AT I O NS DO N ' T FR EQUENTLY R EP O RT O N SU I C I DES, ALTHO UGH THO SE I N P UB L I C P LAC ES DR AW MO R E ATTENT I O N. SO ME R ESEARC H HAS SH OW N
THAT THER E I S A C HANC E THAT NEW S C OV ER AGE C AN SPAR K MO R E SU I C I DE S.
BUT MENTAL - HEALTH EX P ERTS ALSO SAY THAT GO O D C AN C O ME FRO M TALKI NG AB O UT W HAT LEADS P EO P LE TO K I LL THEMSELV ES, AND HOW SO C I ETY C AN
WO R K TO P R EV ENT THAT.”
Suicide from downtown Portland building haunts many (Oregonian)
Shattered glass and a small amount of human remains had landed on her car. She and her husband watched that night as a cleaning crew chemically treated, then pressure-washed the vehicle.
"I still see a little bit of evidence and say, 'Is this her blood?'" Hoon said.
Mike Zacchino / The Oregonian
DIFFERENCES IN REPORTING
Alan Rickman, beloved actor, lost his battle with cancer (Entertainment Weekly)
Robin Williams found hanged with a belt, cops say (USA Today)
1. FOLLOW RECOMMENDATIONS
2. Use SOCIAL & DIGITAL MEDIA – twitter, face book, website.
3. ENGAGE and PARTNER with your local media outlets and other community partners.
4. LIVED EXPERIENCE lead stories of hope and recovery.
5. Have FUN and be CREATIVE.
“The more you leave out, the more you highlight what you leave in.”
― Henry Green
“The worst stereotypes
come out in such
depictions: mentally ill
individuals as incompetent,
dangerous, slovenly,
undeserving,” says
Stephen Hinshaw, a
professor of psychology at
the University of
California–Berkeley. “The
portrayals serve to
distance 'them' from the
rest of 'us.'”
CLIFF NOTES OF DO’S & DON’TS
DO• share facts, resource information, where to get help,
how to help
• Use experts & lived experience stories that emphasize hope & recovery
• promote prevention & early intervention
• frame it as a public health issue
• share warning signs & clues
• use person centric language – a person with [diagnosis];
• say “died by suicide.” don’t use committed; successful/unsuccessful
• evaluate relevance to the story
• explain why media role is important
DON’T
sensationalize with headlines, placement
include location or means or share details or notes or messages
include images of funerals, memorials, grieving
share or report on individual youth suicides
use (and discourage use of) terms like “crazy”
over use “clinical” language
THE SNACK, THE BITE, THE WHOLE MEAL.
Think “bite, snack,
meal.” Offer the right
amount of information
depending on how
“hungry” your user is.
NEVER EAT ALONE.• Spark interest and generate energy so that people pay
attention.
• Pay attention to what else is going on so you can collaborate
and leverage efforts.
• Stay focused, it’s easy to get distracted in the age of
information.
• Be clear on where you are directing your audience & what you
want them to do.
• HOPE & RECOVERY. HOPE & RECOVERY. HOPE & RECOVERY.
THE POWER OF LIVED EXPERIENCE
People with “lived experience” include those
living with and recovering from mental illness
and their families and careers.
Depending on the context, it can also refer to
suicide attempt survivors and family and friends
of survivors or loved ones lost to suicide.
CRAFT YOUR MESSAGE OF HOPE.1. Select one event from the Mental Health Promotion Calendar Campaign Handout.
2. Consider your local community and those who may be interested or already involved in this event/issue.
3. Determine what do people need to do after receiving your message?
Find Help
Take Action
Enlist Others
4. Work on generating a SNACK, BITE, MEAL. You could do all of it OR you could pull from different resources from those you’ve identified at “your table”
5. Be Creative & Have Fun.
BEING PREPARED • Does your organizations have policies?
• Does your organization provide training?
• Do you have people designated (lived experience & experts) and supportive materials developed (fact sheets, resources)?
Prevention
• Does your organization have a written protocol?
• Are staff trained?
• Does the community know about intervention protocols? Intervention
• Proactive Planning
• Communication
• Lessons Learned
• Good postvention is prevention Postvention
CLASS TWEETS #MINDYOURMINDUSA
TO DO OR NOT TO DO: WHAT IS THE STORY
Mental Health, Raising
Awareness and the Media
Kathy Turner
Regional Prevention Promotion Partnership Coordinator
for Clackamas, Multnomah & Washington Counties
email: [email protected]
phone: (503) 742-5962
Nina Danielsen
Health Promotion Coordinator
Clackamas County Behavioral Health Division
503-742-5309
Meghan Crane
Suicide Prevention Coordinator
Washington County Public Health Division
503-846-4748