The Media and Mental Health

[Soviette]

Do you think the media portrays and reports mental health-related stories fairly, or do you think they continue to stigmatise those suffering from mental health problems?

Personally, I think most TV shows ignore the issue, and most of the time when they portray it really stereotypically, i.e. "the mad skitzo". But on the other hand, I like how the BBC approaches it lately. Like with Stacey and her mum on Eastenders and that programme about the N-Dubz singer whose mum is Bipolar. As for the news/newspapers, I think they are mostly still stuck in their ways. I've rarely ever read a positive article on mental illness. Usually, they're moaning about that "attention seeking young man/woman" who is "threatening" to jump off a bridge onto a motorway or traintrack.. and they seem more focused on the fact that the scene caused a few drivers/commutors to be late to work or coming home from work, than the actual life and mental health of the person who had to resort to doing that! I think it's disgusting and only provokes anger at the person in that situation.

It also doesn't help that the media associates mental health with criminality and serial killers. Referring to that top psychiatric hospital (Broadmoor I think it's called) as a 'prison' just because Peter Suttcliffe is detained there.

How conveniently stereotypical (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-467551/The-moment-police-risked-lives-disarm-man-knife-rampage.html)don't you think? Or those schizophrenics who eat brains (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1210923/Brain-eating-convicted-killer-freed-murder-social-worker-bungles.html)!!!!

EDIT - Stigmatise, not stigmatised! Typing error.

[bleeding black]

'Other'

Here in Australia, there are lots of foundations that promote awareness of mental illness, (and offer support or places to get treatment) on bus shelters, some tv commercials, which is fantastic.
On the other hand, media like TV shows and films are pretty hopeless at accurate portrayal, which wouldn't matter to them, since they are trying to sell their shows, to tv channels and viewers not educate the ignorant masses.

[Soviette]

'Other'

Here in Australia, there are lots of foundations that promote awareness of mental illness, (and offer support or places to get treatment) on bus shelters, some tv commercials, which is fantastic.
On the other hand, media like TV shows and films are pretty hopeless at accurate portrayal, which wouldn't matter to them, since they are trying to sell their shows, to tv channels and viewers not educate the ignorant masses.
That's brilliant. Here in the UK, there seems to be only two major charities that promotes awareness or treatment of mental health, and that's the Samaritans (which is really just a helpline) and MIND. However, you never see the Samaritans or MIND plastered all over TV or on bus shelters. I don't even think the NHS says much about mental health awareness, seeing as most NHS posters I see are about combating cancer and heart disease and all the major physical health issues.

[Stellata]

I don't know about TV. But if you saw the headlines on The Sun and The Mirror recently [I don't read them, just see them around at work and in shops] recently with Raoul Moat etc, the number of times the word 'psycho' were used, also 'nutter', despite apparent media agreement NOT to use such words.

[Soviette]

Mhm. The tabloids are the worst for it, I think. It was The Sun that referred to Broadmoor Hospital as a prison. Hence, a lot of people think it is, but to my knowledge there's non-criminal patients in there.

[Sparky!]

That's brilliant. Here in the UK, there seems to be only two major charities that promotes awareness or treatment of mental health, and that's the Samaritans (which is really just a helpline) and MIND. However, you never see the Samaritans or MIND plastered all over TV or on bus shelters. I don't even think the NHS says much about mental health awareness, seeing as most NHS posters I see are about combating cancer and heart disease and all the major physical health issues.

I'm not sure. Every GP's surgery I've been to has posters up about mental health issues, including local support and helplines, and leaflets about different mental health issues. There have been TV campaigns such as the "See me, I'm a person, not a label" one (in Scotland at least), and I'm sure I've seen a couple since then although I can't think what they are! Phone boxes generally have the number for the Samaritans and I have seen notices up with their number in suicide "hotspots", which is good not only in hopefully giving people another option, but in increasing awareness.

I'm not saying that it is ideal. But it is certainly improving and I do think that from the NHS etc there is actually quite a lot of mental health awareness going on.

TV is mixed. Quite a lot of the stuff about mental illness I've seen is a bit rubbish, but then again it's the same with everything. Especially in soaps etc, I would hope that most of us would take their portrayal of any issue with a rather large pinch of salt. I'm not saying it's "okay" as such, but again, I think it's improving and there has been some decent stuff on lately.

I don't read tabloids but from what I have seen their portrayal of mental illness is pretty awful!

I voted other.

[Rhuben]

Generally speaking the printed tabloids tend to portray a very negative stereotype of mental health, they always focus on things like schizophrenia when someone is violent despite the vast majority of us being perfectly harmless. Other conditions are also negatively targeted, depression is often just dismissed as having a case of the blues, feeling a bit down, despite the fact that it's often very debilitating. When it comes to mental health patients needing funding and support because they're unwell the media is always quick to bring out their favourite catchphrase "work shy to be targeted by benefits bonfire". Conditions such as OCD, agoraphobia, and aspergers are often portrayed as being made up, fancy new terms medicalising normal human behaviour.

It is the tabloids that are usually the most guilty when it comes to this... the Express, Daily Mail, and Sun in particular. Broadsheets such as the Times and Guardian tend to be a little better, especially the Guardian which has a section dedicated to mental health news on its website.

Broadcast media such as the BBC and Channel 4 tend to vary, the BBC have done some fantastic programs exploring mental health in the past. Channel 4 as well has featured OCD on its embarassing bodies program, and has shown the documentary "The Doctor who hears voices". But both are also guilty of sometimes sensationalising the news when it comes to mental health, particularly if an attack is carried out by someone with previous mental health problems.

[whirlpools]

That's brilliant. Here in the UK, there seems to be only two major charities that promotes awareness or treatment of mental health, and that's the Samaritans (which is really just a helpline) and MIND. However, you never see the Samaritans or MIND plastered all over TV or on bus shelters. I don't even think the NHS says much about mental health awareness, seeing as most NHS posters I see are about combating cancer and heart disease and all the major physical health issues.

Rethink is a good charity too.

[ThinkingofRecovery]

Also, there was a whole campaign involving famous people who have struggled with mental health problems, eg, Alastair Campbell, Stephen Fry etc called Time to Change. It had a website, posters on the underground and things like that from what I recall.

[Rhuben]

That's brilliant. Here in the UK, there seems to be only two major charities that promotes awareness or treatment of mental health, and that's the Samaritans (which is really just a helpline) and MIND. However, you never see the Samaritans or MIND plastered all over TV or on bus shelters. I don't even think the NHS says much about mental health awareness, seeing as most NHS posters I see are about combating cancer and heart disease and all the major physical health issues.

Only two?

Samaritans
Mind
SANE
Rethink
Papyrus
Mental Health Foundation
Youngminds
Together
Imagine
b-eat

Those are just a few off the top of my head :-)

[Rhuben]

Also, there was a whole campaign involving famous people who have struggled with mental health problems, eg, Alastair Campbell, Stephen Fry etc called Time to Change. It had a website, posters on the underground and things like that from what I recall.

I remember that... http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/

:-)

[The One Who]

The printed media only focus on the negatives of all situations, it's not only mental health.

Every time there is a mental health issue on a popular TV drama or soap there are always two camps: one moaning that it isn't accurate (usually to their own experience) and the other saying how good it is to raise awareness.

[The Hierophant]

There was also a campaing called See Beyond The Label, that I was involved in.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/Trouble89/Self%20Harm%20Conference/DSCN3390.jpg?t=1284140577
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/Trouble89/Self%20Harm%20Conference/DSCN3407.jpg?t=1284140579

WE HAD JULIAN CLARY!(who is a knob)
& they are still working, around the country.behind the scenes.

[Darkestcore]

How about this in today's Sun.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/3132930/Samaritans-and-Network-Rail-launch-anti-suicide-campaign.html

[whirlpools]

That looks good, actually.

[Soviette]

Only two?

Samaritans
Mind
SANE
Rethink
Papyrus
Mental Health Foundation
Youngminds
Together
Imagine
b-eat

Those are just a few off the top of my head :-)
Walk up to Average Joe or Jane in the street and ask him/her if he's/she's heard of any of them, and the chances are he hasn't. Most people seem to only be aware what things like the Samaritans (which in my opinion are fairly overrated, but anyhow..) and maybe MIND are, in my experience.

I'm just saying that in comparison with other illnesses, mental health is very much ignored and kept in the dark.

I've vaguely heard of Rethink. Isn't that a region-specific charity? Or do I have that wrong..

I'm aware that the tabloids can sometimes have a good article about mental illness or suicide (like that lad who was urged to jump in Derb by the crowd, the papers criticised them), but generally they don't, especially when it comes to 'severe' mental illness. The rest are just psychopaths who should be thrown in prison as far as they're concerned tbh.

[whirlpools]

A horrible thing is, have you ever noticed things like films etc. advertising as having a 'psychotic' killer when they actually mean 'psychopathic'? Biiiiiiiig difference.

[Soviette]

A horrible thing is, have you ever noticed things like films etc. advertising as having a 'psychotic' killer when they actually mean 'psychopathic'? Biiiiiiiig difference.
Yeah, and according to some people I know, having a mental breakdown = psychotic episode. The same people who think a suicidal person is also homicidal, which is a view people like Raoul Moat and Chris Benoit enforce.

As long as it sounds nice and evil, they don't care. I mean none of it is "normal" so like who cares? (In their eyes)

[Ami]

Bleh, this annoys me so much.

I hate it when media/films refare to schizophrenia as "thinking he's 3 different people". And on the rare occasion someone with MH issues commmits a serious offence, its plastered all over, making it seem like its occuring so much more.

NHS's choices website on various mental health issues made me confused.
Psychosis is more common than most people realise. It is estimated that one in every 200 people in the UK has experienced psychosis.
so 0.5% yet.. (I thought it was around 3% anyways)
Schizophrenia, which is one of the main causes of psychosis, will affect one person in every 100 in the population during their lifetime.
So those stats confused me.

And also, they always seem to bring cannabis into stuff about psychosis. Daily mail believe the increase in people claiming DLA for psychosis was due to the down classing of cannabis a while ago.

I dont watch TV much because I get messages, so I cant comment on things like eastenders etc.

Bleh the at the media.. its amazing that they get away with things that are actually bullshit!

[bleeding black]

I hate it when media/films refare to schizophrenia as "thinking he's 3 different people".
Hehe, believe us, people who actually are three or more different people hate it just as much.

Tabloids feed audiences what they want (the majority of the audience). People LOVE drama, the general population doesn't want to hear about the schizophrenic woman who holds down a high pressure job, or the bipolar man who supports his family and donates to charities. they want to hear about catastrophe, calamity and crisis...
It's sad but true.

That being said, there are lots of good organizations out there, raising awareness and doing a lot of good for the MH effected population.

[Sparky!]

A horrible thing is, have you ever noticed things like films etc. advertising as having a 'psychotic' killer when they actually mean 'psychopathic'? Biiiiiiiig difference.

Absolutely, I hate that.

I've vaguely heard of Rethink. Isn't that a region-specific charity? Or do I have that wrong..

No, it isn't. http://www.rethink.org/index.html It's pretty good.

Out of curiosity, why do you think the Samaritans are overrated?

[The Hierophant]

And also, they always seem to bring cannabis into stuff about psychosis. Daily mail believe the increase in people claiming DLA for psychosis was due to the down classing of cannabis a while ago.



I remember there being a rise in CAMHS cases when cannabis was reclassified. I can't remember where.

The thing is, cannabis is a big one for bringing on drug induced psychosis, it may be because I have been told if I'd not have dabbled in cannabis (ok dabbled is putting it lightly) when i was younger I may have bypassed a lot of issues I have.

[bleeding black]

I also think (no matter how ignorant) that it's so much easier for people to believe that people who have a mental illness are 'crazed psychopathic/ psychotic killers' because it means they don't have to try and understand it, or have compassion or tolerance for them.

[beebee89]

the media is a joke when it comes to mental health, did anyone see that woman get kicked off the x factor because she had "a serious mental health issue" they kept going "shes a ticking time bomb" and stupid comments like that.

Yeah, cause kicking her off the x factor after putting her through will help her problems. Idiots.

They rarely make likeable people in soaps and stuff have MH its always annoying folk like stacey slater and hannah off hollyoaks.

Newt is ok though.

[Rhuben]

beebee89 - Are you referring to this by any chance? http://web.orange.co.uk/article/news/x_factor_investigating_ticking_timebomb_contestant

Shirlena Johnson who sang Mercy by Duffy.

I do think it's cruel how she's been manipulated, they've profited financially from her eccentric performance and now they've kicked her off due to health issues.

[xbeckyx]

NSHN do quite a lot too, they are a registered charity.

I think it's unfiar how mentally ill poeple are portrayed in the media tbh, usually is focusses more on how it has a negative effect on other people than the pain that person is going through.

[Soviette]

No, it isn't. http://www.rethink.org/index.html It's pretty good.
Thanks, I'll have a look at that.

Out of curiosity, why do you think the Samaritans are overrated?
Just not had a positive personal experience with them. I also think too many people have the kneejerk reaction "oh call the Samaritans!" when someone's on the edge of a crisis, but the Samaritans aren't legally supposed to advise you anything as they are comprised of volunteers (not professionals) and they are 100% confidential, so really they aren't much good unless you want someone to just talk to, but even for that it's hit or miss imo. You could get someone who doesn't give a toss and listen to you 'til your last breath, or you could get a really kind and understanding person.

[xlaurenx]

I hate the way the media show MH issues as it has a negative inpact on everyone who has an MH problem. It also makes people werey( sp?) as far as been mates with someone who has MH problems

As far as the sams go... its been hit and miss with me again there only really there if you wanna poor your heart out. I remeber 2 phone calls i had with them when i was suicidal and the woman got really concerned or more i was really distressed another person on that shift listened in , to help.

I again remember another time when i was again suicidal i said " I arent sure what to do" as i like sobs and she says " Well we cant tell you want to do, you have to decide" i was pretty much running out of time and she says that to me?