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The impact of the mass media on public images of mental illness: media content and audience belief

Development and Evaluation, Health Education Board for Scotland, Lesley Henderson, Researcher, Glasgow Media Group, Greg McLaughlin, Researcher, Glasgow Media Group, Jocelyn Burnside, Researcher, Glasgow Media Group

Jenny Secker

Development and Evaluation, Health Education Board for Scotland, Lesley Henderson, Researcher, Glasgow Media Group, Greg McLaughlin, Researcher, Glasgow Media Group, Jocelyn Burnside, Researcher, Glasgow Media Group

Steve Platt

Development and Evaluation, Health Education Board for Scotland, Lesley Henderson, Researcher, Glasgow Media Group, Greg McLaughlin, Researcher, Glasgow Media Group, Jocelyn Burnside, Researcher, Glasgow Media Group

Lesley Henderson

Development and Evaluation, Health Education Board for Scotland, Lesley Henderson, Researcher, Glasgow Media Group, Greg McLaughlin, Researcher, Glasgow Media Group, Jocelyn Burnside, Researcher, Glasgow Media Group

Greg McLaughlin

Development and Evaluation, Health Education Board for Scotland, Lesley Henderson, Researcher, Glasgow Media Group, Greg McLaughlin, Researcher, Glasgow Media Group, Jocelyn Burnside, Researcher, Glasgow Media Group

Jocelyn Burnside

Development and Evaluation, Health Education Board for Scotland, Lesley Henderson, Researcher, Glasgow Media Group, Greg McLaughlin, Researcher, Glasgow Media Group, Jocelyn Burnside, Researcher, Glasgow Media Group

An analysis of media content in April 1993 found that two-thirds of items dealing with mental health issues forged a link between mental illness and violence. Using some of this material, the impact on the beliefs of an audience sample was explored. Six general groups and one user group took part in the study. Two-fifths of the general sample believed mental illness to be associated with violence and gave the media as their source. While some respondents with personal knowledge of mental illness, including the user group, rejected the dominant media message, others accepted it against the evidence of their own eyes. The findings indicate the importance of working with the media to destigmatise mental health problems.

Health Education Journal, Vol. 53, No. 3, 271-281 (1994)
DOI: 10.1177/001789699405300305


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