Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-4hhp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-31T23:50:35.832Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

An evaluation of journalistic reporting on schizophrenia in the Irish news media

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2023

Emmet Godfrey ,
Conor Gavin ,
Elaine Haskins ,
Áine O’Meara ,
Karen O’Connor  and
Gary Donohoe
Emmet Godfrey
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
Conor Gavin
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
Elaine Haskins
Affiliation:
Headline, a Programme of Shine, Block B Maynooth Business Campus, Maynooth, Co., Kildare, Ireland
Áine O’Meara
Affiliation:
Headline, a Programme of Shine, Block B Maynooth Business Campus, Maynooth, Co., Kildare, Ireland
Karen O’Connor
Affiliation:
RISE, Early Intervention In Psychosis Service, South Lee Mental Health Services, Cork, Ireland Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Science, University College Cork, Western rd, Cork, Ireland
Gary Donohoe*
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
*
Address for correspondence: Prof. Dr. Gary Donohoe, School of Psychology, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland. (Email: gary.donohoe@universityofgalway.ie)
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objectives:

Schizophrenia represents one of the most stigmatised of mental disorders. Despite public awareness campaigns to raise awareness and increase understanding of mental health disorders, schizophrenia continues to be poorly understood. In this context, this study aims to provide a descriptive analysis of reporting on schizophrenia in the Irish online print news media.

Methods:

Online printed news articles which made reference to schizophrenia or related terms in 2021, the latest year for which full date was available, were collected. A list of criteria considered good reporting practise on mental illness in the media was curated. Additionally, a scale was developed based on these criteria to assign a valence to each article in terms of characteristics that were either stigma reinforcing or stigma challenging.

Results:

A total of 656 articles were included in the analysis. A majority of articles were found to avoid stigma reinforcing criteria (e.g. use of pejorative language). By contrast, few characteristics considered stigma challenging criteria were being endorsed (e.g. inclusion of a first person account). Overall sample valences show good reporting practises, but also suggested targets for improvement.

Conclusions:

While Irish online print news reports on schizophrenia and related illnesses avoid many stigmatising characteristics, many opportunities to challenge stigma remain.

Keywords

Schizophreniapsychosismediastigma
Type
Original Research
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , First View , pp. 1 - 5
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The College of Psychiatrists of Ireland

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aragonès, E, López-Muntaner, J, Ceruelo, S, Basora, J (2014). Reinforcing stigmatization: coverage of mental illness in Spanish newspapers. Journal of Health Communication 19, 1248–1258.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Corrigan, P (2004). How stigma interferes with mental health care. American Psychologist 59, 614–625.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Everymind (2020). Guidelines on Media Reporting of Severe Mental Illness in the Context of Violence and Crime. Everymind: Newcastle, Australia.Google Scholar
Everymind (2020). Reporting Suicide and Mental Ill-health: A Mindframe Resource for Media Professionals. Everymind: Newcastle, Australia.Google Scholar
Lebowitz, MS (2016). Stigmatization of ADHD: a developmental review. Journal of Attention Disorders 20, 199–205.Google ScholarPubMed
Link, BG (1987). Understanding labeling effects in the area of mental disorders: an assessment of the effects of expectations of rejection. American Sociological Review 52, 96–112.Google Scholar
Maiorano, A, Lasalvia, A, Sampogna, G, Pocai, B, Ruggeri, M, Henderson, C (2017). Reducing stigma in media professionals: is there room for improvement? Results from a systematic review. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 62, 702–715.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Morgan, AJ, Ross, AM, Wake, A, Jorm, AF, Kashihara, J, Reavley, NJ (2022). Stigmatizing and mitigating elements of a TV news report on violent crime and severe mental illness: an experiment. Stigma and health [Preprint].Google Scholar
Mothersill, D, Loughnane, G, Grasso, G, Hargreaves, A (2021). Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours towards schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and autism: a pilot study. Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, 1–7.Google ScholarPubMed
Rose, D, Thornicroft, G, Pinfold, V, Kassam, A (2007). 250 labels used to stigmatise people with mental illness. BMC Health Services Research 7, 1–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ross, AM, Morgan, AJ, Wake, A, Jorm, AF, Reavley, NJ (2020). Guidelines for news media reporting on mental illness in the context of violence and crime: a Delphi consensus study. Australian Journalism Review 42, 293–311.Google Scholar
Ross, AM, Morgan, AJ, Wake, A, Jorm, AF, Reavley, NJ (2021a). Key stakeholders 2019; recommendations for improving Australian news media reporting of people with severe mental illness, violence and crime. Advances in Mental Health 20, 253–265.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ross, AM, Morgan, AJ, Wake, A, Jorm, AF, Reavley, NJ (2021b). Pilot trial of a media intervention with journalism students on news reporting of mental illness in the context of violence and crime. Health Promotion Journal of Australia 33, 602–613.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schomerus, G, Schwahn, C, Holzinger, A, Corrigan, PW, Grabe, HJ, Carta, MG, Angermeyer, MC (2012). Evolution of public attitudes about mental illness: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 125, 440–452.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stuart, H (2016). Reducing the stigma of mental illness. Global Mental Health 3.Google ScholarPubMed
Valery, KM, Prouteau, A (2020). Schizophrenia stigma in mental health professionals and associated factors: a systematic review. Psychiatry Research 290, 113068.Google ScholarPubMed