Thought Leadership

The HEA held a press conference with Echo's findings in its report entitled Media Mentality to challenge the media to report on the issue responsibly, but putting up a clear 'mirror' of stereotyping and uninformed journalism, and detailing the concomitant damages those entail. Echo's Media Mentality also provided the basis for an open government forum led by the Health Minister to discuss the issues and recommendations on how health agencies should educate and communicate with the media in matters of mental illness.

Echo's study found the media reporting of mental health in general increases the stigma attached to mental ill health and thereby fans hostility and misunderstanding among the public. The research also found growing interest in mental health issues and predisposition to favourable reporting if properly informed. Among other findings, Echo's report concluded that:

• Sensational headlines and insensitive language dominated media reporting, with terms like 'schizo', 'psycho' and 'nutter';
• News print and TV showed appreciable differences in both style and approach. TV talk shows and soaps dealt more in 'lifestyle' issues related to people's well-being, particularly relationship problems, stress, bereavement and bullying. Talk shows tended to sympathetic and 'voyeristic';
• Depression was treated with greater sensitivity by the media and merited the type of coverage often reserved for physical illnesses, with little or no stigma attached to it;
• Stress, bullying and the pressure to succeed were increasingly reported on among the leading causes of mental health problems.
• Care in the Community was perceived by the media to have been a failure, and often linked with serious crimes.

The full Echo report Please click here