Television and attitudes toward mental health issues: Cultivation analysis and the third-person effect (original) (raw)
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2019
This paper explores established research concerning the influence of media portrayals of mental illness and its treatment on stigma, helpseeking behavior, and viewer awareness from a social work perspective. The purpose of this paper is to examine the validity and generalizability of the existing literature regarding the effects of the presence of themes of mental illlness in television and movies. Concerning the social work profession, there is discussion regarding the role that media portrayals of mental illness can have on clients’ expectations for treatment and willingness to seek help. The referenced research examines the impact of depictions of mental illness in television shows specifically with criminal and medical themes. Focusing on authentic depictions of mental illness, research demonstrates that realistic, factually-based portrayals actively reduce stigma and associated stereotypes surrounding mental illness and its treatment. The identified limitations, lack of general...
Images of Mental Illness in the Media: Indentifying Gaps in the Research
This article summarizes research published over the past decade and identifies areas where future research is needed to increase our knowledge of the media's role in fostering or reducing mental illness stigma. The following questions are addressed: (1) How is mental illness portrayed by the media? (2) How do media images of mental illness impact individuals' knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors with regard to mental illness? (3) How can the media be used to reduce mental illness stigma? The review reveals a lack of recent research on the U.S. media and a need for precision in how mental illness and the media are defined for study. Research is needed that involves a broader range of media channels as well as more distinctions among different types of content within channels and a more detailed analysis of media images themselves. The largest gap to be addressed is the link between exposure to media images and mental illness stigma. Use of the media as a tool for change requires a better understanding of what messages are conveyed, how they are developed, and what role media content producers play in creating these messages.
PORTRAYAL OF MENTAL HEALTH IN MEDIA: A BIO-PSYCHOSOCIAL PERSPECTIVE
International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation, 2020
The use of media in promoting mental health is relatively a new phenomenon and indeed a complex idea of study in the frequently changing scenario of technological arena. Media has tremendous ability to impact the human minds. It not only influences the people to purchase and use products but also captivates the minds and impacts the cognition. The negative messages and images delivered by media will promote negative assertiveness and the subsequent coverage by media nourishes the already existing negative perception of public and mental health. Hence there is a need to disseminate proper information.Media can be used to bring in changes in the society. The potentialities hidden in the media can be used to create and impart knowledge, develop favourable behaviours and attitudes and to change the blatant behaviours in the society. Media should be utilised in such a way that the only positive aspects of media should be designed and adopted to be the harbingers of the changes in the society. The negative sides of media should be ignored. The media should be used and can reduce the stigma thatched to the mental illness as it is capable of worsening the stigma attached to the mental disorder. It should be acknowledged by all forms of media platforms including the social media and mainstream media adhere to the ethical values of reframing from broadcasting, printing and uploading fake information into the public domain. Mental health professionals play a crucial role in creating awareness among public and educating them over the illness and its present condition.