TRANSFORMING MEDIA MESSAGING ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS THROUGH NEWS,

ENTERTAINMENT AND SOCIAL MEDIA

Nedra Kline Weinreich

@Nedra@MediaTEAMUp@EIC_Online

Our partners:

Radio Television Digital News Association

When do we talk about mental illness?

Usually when there is a crisis, such as a shooting or other violence, or when

someone has harmed or killed himself.

The Facts About Mental Illness and Violence

• FACT: People with mental illness are responsible for no more than 5 percent of violent acts in America.

• FACT: People living with mental illness are more often the victims, not perpetrators, of violence.

--National Institute of Mental Health

Stigma and Discrimination

• Difficulty renting an apartment

• Discrimination in employment

• Unfair treatment in education

• Isolation from friends and family

News Media Analysis

• TEAM Up performed an analysis of stories in more than 20 California newspapers over a one-year period.

• The analysis revealed that most coverage about people with mental illness is negative and much of it emphasized a person’s dangerousness.

News MediaNegative Portrayals

ENGLISH SPANISH0%

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Entertainment Media Analysis

• About 50% of primetime scripted fiction programs mention mental health/illness

• Characters depicted with mental illness were more likely to be the “bad guys”

• Characters typically white adult males• Violence and danger were the most

common stereotypical representation of mental illness

Key Messages

Built Message Infrastructure

Worked Through Partnerships

California Newspaper Publishers Assn

California Broadcasters AssnJournalism Assn of Community Colleges

Media and Stakeholder Outreach

Trained 981 working journalists + 275 student journalists Briefings in 23 California newsrooms Presentations at 25 journalist conferences/associations Reached over 1,100 entertainment professionals at 12

events Engaged over 3,400 stakeholders at 27 events Statewide Generation Next student outreach

First, Do No Harm.

Photo: Nico Arkesteijn

Avoid reinforcing stereotypes/misconcept

ionsDo not use stigmatizing language

Messaging Recommendations

• Assessing relevance of mental illness to story• Using reliable sources for diagnosis• Choosing words for accuracy• Avoiding reinforcement of stereotypes and

stigma• Using person-first language• Avoiding assumption that violence caused by

mental illness• Share positive stories for balance

What are some other potential unintended consequences of mental health messages?

• Focus on word “stigma” may reinforce the social unacceptability of mental illness

• Emphasizing the biological nature of mental illness as a brain disease can backfire

• Success stories can set unrealistic expectations

• Creates demand for unavailable services• Reinforce stereotypes of what living with a

mental illness “looks like”

What are some other potential unintended consequences of mental health messages? cont.

• Reinforce stereotype of all veterans as having PTSD/ticking time bombs

• Messages/images can be triggering (e.g., anorexia, PTSD)

• Blurred lines between mental illness and “normal” emotional distress

• Medical model vs. recovery model send different messages about responsibility, agency

• Can set up people who share their stories for more discrimination

Lessons Learned

• Think in terms of building message sustainability

• Work through trusted messengers – eg, AP Stylebook, respected LA Times journalist

• Establish partnerships with key professional associations

• Build capacity on all sides – media and other stakeholders

• Change takes time to take root

Slides/Resourceshttp://bit.ly/messagingconsequences

Nedra Weinreichweinreich@social-marketing.com

@Nedra

eiconline.org/teamup