PowerPoint Presentation for Faculty

Generation Next Mental Health Reporting for Journalists

Reporting on Mental Health

http://bit.ly/GenNextVideo

1 in 4 will have a mental health issue

--National Institute of Mental Health CC Photo: Jesse Vaughan

When do we talk about mental health?

• Usually when there is a crisis, such as a shooting or other violence, or when someone has harmed or killed himself.

Violence • FACT: People with mental illness are responsible for no more than 5 percent of violent acts in America. • FACT: People living with mental illness are more often the victims, not perpetrators, of violence.

--National Institute of Mental Health

Stigma and discrimination • • • •

Difficulty renting an apartment Discrimination in employment Unfair treatment in education Isolation from friends and family

Barriers to seeking help • • • • • • •

Stigma Concern about loss of job or social standing Stereotypes Lack of information Fear Mistrust Cultural norms

Cultural considerations • A number of population groups believe that mental health issues are best dealt with “among their own.” • Gender roles and the words used to describe a mental health challenge vary greatly. • Religious and spiritual traditions vary greatly; understand how they relate to people’s coping mechanisms or views.

Relevance

Source

Labeling

Slang

IN ARTS He goes psycho on the dance floor, especially when his favorite song is played. Some people would say that Jackson is demented, but he considers himself an avant-garde artist who is on the cutting edge of what’s new in multimedia.

IN BUSINESS The stock market was bipolar today, starting with a loss of 300 points when the opening bell rang but ending up 150 points higher.

ANY BEAT His ex-wife said Smith goes crazy when he finds out she has a date with another man. Chavez’s husband said she goes loco when she drinks. ‘Tis the season schizophrenic beers

for

News Stories

Yet Another Man Commits Suicide By Jumping Off Golden Gate Bridge SAN FRANCISCO—A 21-year-old suicide walked more than a mile to leap to his death from the Golden Gate Bridge on Friday morning because of an argument with his ex-girlfriend. Jose Sanchez was pronounced dead at the scene, said police department spokeswoman Sheila Phillips. It was the fourth suicide of the year from the bridge, a well-known site for suicides. Police closed northbound traffic on the bridge for 90 minutes during rush hour while they investigated the incident. Sanchez’s parents said their son was distraught over his recent breakup with Eleanor Rodriguez, a woman he met in a class at UC Berkeley. The two had been dating for about 10 months when Rodriguez broke off the relationship last week, according to Maria Sanchez.

Mentally Ill Man, 22, Paroled Following 2012 Meat-Cleaver Attack on Local Female LANCASTER — He was suffering from schizophreniform, a precursor to schizophrenia, a local psychiatrist said. "He has absolutely no memory of what happened," defense lawyer Robert Beyer said at Monday's hearing. Weida is to stay at LGH until he is deemed competent for release and no longer a danger to himself or others. He will then serve 5 years' probation. Weida was a freshman at Shippensburg University when he started to "lose a bit of control" mentally.

Balance

When should we talk about mental health?

Whenever a budget is released. In health stories, just about any health story. In stories about substance abuse recovery. Consider it when discussing the long-term unemployed, losing a job, losing a loved one, stress in student and veteran populations. • First-person accounts. • • • •

Resources

Mental Health Resources The following resources are available at: eiconline.org/swpa-gen-next

About Mental Health •TEAM Up (Tools for Entertainment and Media)

For Journalists •TEAM Up for Journalists •Depiction Suggestions

•Each Mind Matters •SAMHSA •National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

•Style Guide: Reporting on Mental Health •First Person Accounts

•Articles •Active Minds •Staunton Farm Foundation

•A New State of Mind: Ending the Stigma of Mental Illness (documentary)

•Directory of Mental Health Terms

•Social Media Guidelines

•PRISM Awards

•SWPA Toolkits

STORY IDEAS

Television For those with mental illness, stigma cuts deep

CBS News

Audio

Photojournalism

Reporting on Mental Health • Tell the complete story • Remember that the person is not the disease • Allow those with mental illness to be heard • Seek out mental health experts • Watch your language!

We encourage you to join Generation Next and be a part of the “art of making a difference.” Generation Next Features: • Southwestern Pennsylvania Media & Mental Health Mentoring Session with media experts • Qualifying Productions aired on EICnetwork.tv, a global internet television network • Curricular resources for faculty and students • Distribution of Press Release and Special News Story about student involvement to address mental health concerns. • Social Media push of qualifying productions through EIC

Generation Next Journalism Campaign Spring 2015 Application Deadline: March 31 Final Projects Deadline: April 7

http://www.Eiconline.org/swpa-gen-next

Find us at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mental-Health-inSWPA/141452889217060 for guidance on and highlights of mental health news coverage.

http://www.eiconline.org/swpa-gen-next