Topic Tuesday 13/10: The media and mental health

[Sienna]

I think that people can change if they are educated - the media can be a powerful ally in the fight against stigma.

[Former-Member]

There are some guidelines on the best way to do this:

https://www.sane.org/images/PDFs/SANE-Guide-to-Reducing-Stigma.pdf 

[chookmojo]

Thanks for your time @Former-Member and for the interesting discussion everyone. I gotta scoot and rescue my dinner which is starting to smell a bit charcoaly...

[kato]

i too am off for a bit thank you for the topic, i enjoyed seeing everything and reading everyones viewpoints

[CherryBomb]

I agree with @Sienna! Stigma can be challenged with education. 

As @Former-Member mentioned earlier, journos are people too, and they are often not experts in mental health. Keeping this in mind, what should be the main objective in reporting mental illness? 

[CherryBomb]

Bye @chookmojo @kato! Thanks for joining us. 

[Former-Member]

I think the objective of reporting on mental illness should be to de-stigmatise or to educate about mental illness. To enlighten an audience about the journey of mental illness, how it differs from person to person, providing many differing viewpoints. It should be the starter of conversations not the be-all and end-all of information on mental illness.

[Mazarita]

Hi everyone. Just joining you (forgot about daylight savings in the south). I don't have anything to add just now but it's interesting reading everything. Cheers.

[CherryBomb]

time check: we got another 30 mins before the conversation ends, so if you have any questions/comments. Now is the time to get them in. 

[CherryBomb]

@Former-Member you mentioned that an objective is to minimise stigma - What types of things can you as journalist and/or the community do to minimise stigma?