Newspaper coverage of mental illness in the UK, 1992-2008

Abstract

BackgroundRecent years have seen a number of attempts to reduce the stigma related to mental illness; the media can play a significant role in perpetuating this stigma. This paper analyses trends in newspaper coverage of mental illness in the UK between 1992-2008 across a range of psychiatric diagnoses.MethodsA content analysis was performed on a sample of articles (n = 1361) about mental illness in a range of UK newspapers in 1992, 2000, and 2008.ResultsThere was a significant proportional reduction in negative articles about mental illness between 1992 and 2008, and a significant increase in articles explaining psychiatric disorders. Coverage improved for depression but remained largely negative for schizophrenia.ConclusionsNewspaper coverage of mental illness became less stigmatising overall in the 1990s and 2000s, but this was not true for all diagnoses.

Change in newspaper coverage of schizophrenia in Japan over 20-year period

“…Previous studies in Japan, Australia, and the United States have highlighted that a large part of the general population held stereotypes that individuals with schizophrenia were dangerous (Corrigan et al, 2002;Griffiths et al, 2006). In newspapers, 14-49% of articles on mental illness were linked to danger (Goulden et al, 2011;Magliano et al, 2011;Nawkova et al, 2012;Whitley and Berry, 2013). Furthermore, newspaper coverage of schizophrenia has been shown to be disproportionately negative compared with other psychiatric conditions in previous studies in the United Kingdom (Goulden et al, 2011;Thornicroft et al, 2013), Belgium (Thys et al, 2013), Czech Republic, Croatia, and Slovakia (Nawkova et al, 2012).…”

“…For example, the number of outpatients using psychiatry services in Japan has almost doubled (Ministry of Health, Labour andWelfare, 1990-2011). A previous study in the United Kingdom demonstrated that the number of articles on mental illnesses has also almost doubled from 1992 to 2008 (Goulden et al, 2011). These factors may confound time-related changes in the social attitudes specific to schizophrenia.…”

“…In newspapers, 14-49% of articles on mental illness were linked to danger (Goulden et al, 2011;Magliano et al, 2011;Nawkova et al, 2012;Whitley and Berry, 2013). Furthermore, newspaper coverage of schizophrenia has been shown to be disproportionately negative compared with other psychiatric conditions in previous studies in the United Kingdom (Goulden et al, 2011;Thornicroft et al, 2013), Belgium (Thys et al, 2013), Czech Republic, Croatia, and Slovakia (Nawkova et al, 2012). Media coverage and the attitudes of the general public toward mental illness influence each other (Goulden et al, 2011;Klin and Lemish, 2008;Stout et al, 2004).…”

“…Furthermore, newspaper coverage of schizophrenia has been shown to be disproportionately negative compared with other psychiatric conditions in previous studies in the United Kingdom (Goulden et al, 2011;Thornicroft et al, 2013), Belgium (Thys et al, 2013), Czech Republic, Croatia, and Slovakia (Nawkova et al, 2012). Media coverage and the attitudes of the general public toward mental illness influence each other (Goulden et al, 2011;Klin and Lemish, 2008;Stout et al, 2004). Among some media sources, newspaper coverage was used to investigate the effect of anti-stigma campaigns in some countries Whitley and Berry, 2013).…”

A modified framework for identifying stigma: News coverage of persons with mental illness killed by police.

“…Persons with mental illness are often portrayed in media coverage as being incompetent (Goulden et al, 2011) or "helpless, disempowered and child-like" (Olstead, 2002, p. 634). Furthermore, despite mental illness being a common feature of everyday life, news reports about persons with mental illness often focus on rare, violent events (The Carter Center, 2015).…”