Media reporting on mental illness, violence and crime needs to change
When reporting on issues such as mental illness and violence, journalists’ language can either alleviate, or reinforce, stigma. Anna Ross, Elizabeth Paton, and Michelle Blanchard explain why the media needs to do a better job.
The media is a key source of information about mental illness for the public, and research shows media coverage can influence public attitudes and perceptions of mental ill-health. But when it comes to complex mental illnesses such as psychosis and schizophrenia, media coverage tends to emphasise negative aspects, often choosing to focus on portrayals of violence, unpredictability and danger to others.
These portrayals can give an exaggerated impression of the actual rate at which violent incidents occur. In reality, such incidents are rare and are often better accounted for by other factors.
This can generate a skewed impression mental illness causes violent behaviour, which reinforces myths, increases stigmatising attitudes and cultivates fear among the public.
