Media frames of mental illnesses: The potential impact of negative frames

Abstract

Background: Mass media (e.g., television news and entertainment programming, films and newspapers) are a primary source for information about mental illnesses. Aims: The possible effects of media coverage and predominant frames in which mental illnesses are portrayed are discussed. Methods: Framing is defined as the means by which media information is organized, presented and interpreted. The literature focused on media coverage of mental illnesses and media framing is reviewed. Results: The frequently negative frames used by the media to portray mental illnesses contribute to the development and persistence of the public's negative attitudes toward persons with mental illnesses. Conclusions: An obvious extension to this work is a systematic analysis of framing functions, structures and elements used in the media to describe mental illnesses. The experimental manipulation of mental illness frames and their consequences on media consumers will help to provide some understanding of how media consumers react specifically to frames of mental illnesses. Declaration of interest: None.