Washington State publishes guide for media reporting on mental health issues

From the Washington State Dept. of Social and Health Services:

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Washington's Mental Health Transformation Project and the University of Washington School of Social Work announced May 5 the launch of two new information resources to help Washington State media report on mental health and mental illness. The resources include a new Web site (http://www.mentalhealthreporting.org/) and a newly published Media Guide to Reporting on Mental Illness.

"We'd like news organizations and the entertainment industry to understand the important role they play in shaping public opinions about people living with mental illness," says Jennifer Stuber, PhD, an assistant professor at the University of Washington School of Social Work who conducted the study. She focuses her research on the social detriments of health and mental health, and proposed strategies to address the root causes of stigma and prejudice.

The new Guide and Web site were created after a content analysis of 856 news stories over a 10- year period showed that news stories often use derogatory terms and negative stereotypes to describe people living with mental illness.

According to Stuber, inaccurate portrayals of mental illness in the news influence public attitudes and lead to negative consequences for people with mental illness, including discrimination in employment or in finding a home.

The new resources contain tips for journalists, helping them address a wider range of stories on mental health and how to avoid the use of stereotypical language.

That will lead to improvements in the public's understanding of mental illness in Washington State.