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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2011

Open Access 01-12-2011 | Correspondence

Newspaper coverage of mental illness in the UK, 1992-2008

Authors: Robert Goulden, Elizabeth Corker, Sara Evans-Lacko, Diana Rose, Graham Thornicroft, Claire Henderson

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2011

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Abstract

Background

Recent years have seen a number of attempts to reduce the stigma related to mental illness; the media can play a significant role in perpetuating this stigma. This paper analyses trends in newspaper coverage of mental illness in the UK between 1992-2008 across a range of psychiatric diagnoses.

Methods

A content analysis was performed on a sample of articles (n = 1361) about mental illness in a range of UK newspapers in 1992, 2000, and 2008.

Results

There was a significant proportional reduction in negative articles about mental illness between 1992 and 2008, and a significant increase in articles explaining psychiatric disorders. Coverage improved for depression but remained largely negative for schizophrenia.

Conclusions

Newspaper coverage of mental illness became less stigmatising overall in the 1990s and 2000s, but this was not true for all diagnoses.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
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Metadata
Title
Newspaper coverage of mental illness in the UK, 1992-2008
Authors
Robert Goulden
Elizabeth Corker
Sara Evans-Lacko
Diana Rose
Graham Thornicroft
Claire Henderson
Publication date
01-12-2011
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2011
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-11-796

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