Journalist with notebook and microphone

Media portrayals of mental illness and mental health can have a significant impact on community perceptions of mental illness and can assist in breaking down the stigma that can be associated with mental illness.

This page provides information for media and communications organisations reporting on mental illness.

 

Recent Media Alerts from the mental health sector

 


Transcultural Mental Health Centre

 

For media enquiries regarding the Transcultural Mental Health Centre please contact the Western Sydney Local Health District Corporate Communications Team on (02) 8890 4564.


MindFrame

 

The Mindframe National Media Initiative provides evidence-based information to support the reporting, portrayal and communication about suicide and mental illness. Resources are available from the Mindframe website

Mindframe - Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities

Mindframe reminder for responsible reporting on the Christchurch shooting (PDF 653KB)

The risks of linking extremist behaviour and mental illness - Joint Statement Mindframe & StigmaWatch    (PDF 368KB)


National Communications Charter

 

Developed by Life in Mind, the Charter is a document designed to guide the way organisations talk about mental health and suicide prevention, with each other and with the community. The Charter aims to help everyone better understand the power that words and the way we use language can have when talking about mental illness and suicide. The Charter sets out broad and strategic communication principles and key messages about mental health and wellbeing, social and emotional wellbeing, mental ill-health and suicide prevention.

Find out more about the Charter here.


Articles of interest


The role of language in suicide reporting: Investigating the influence of problematic suicide referents
By Florian Arendt & Sebastian Scherr et al; Social Science and Medicine. 3 May 2018

Why reporting on refugee crises requires empathy for mental health issues
By Marc Herman, Columbia Journalism Review. July 6, 2016


Reaching Culturally Diverse Populations

 

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