Any ideas for a mental health in the media presentation?

Question

As part of my university course, I have been asked to do a 10 minute presentation on mental health and the media. I can do it on any aspect I like. I'm unsure whether to concentrate on one case/illness or one media source to see how they portray mental health in general, but either way I'm really stuck for ideas.

Any help would be really appreciated.

Answer 1

Have a look at www.mind.org.uk and sane.org.uk as they have some fantastic resources.

A few years back there was major controversy over tabloid comments made about Frank Bruno's mental state, calling him 'Bonkers Bruno'.

I know that the Independent on Sunday ran a campaign for Sane using celebrities and their experiences of mental illness to reduce the stigma attached to it.

Answer 2

How about a reportage bullentin on the lives of people with major illness such as shcizophrenia or bi-polar disorder. You might also want to consider the notion of psyche and everyday mental health and mental ill health for everyone, focus on what keeps us well and what makes us ill. Or you could consider trying to portray the roles of modern Mental Health Professionals and how they see the work they day in terms their own priorities and government legislation, look at a wide mix to get a balanced presntaion such as Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Mental Health Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Social Workers etc. With all these ideas you could focus on how the media generally ignores all but the sensational cases while this background of good work and normality exists on a daily basis.

Answer 3

I would look at cases that have been reported and focus in particular on the LANGUAGE the paper uses that would be detrimental or otherwise. Language is very powerful. Eg. Headlines...Mad so and so on rampage etc.

I think a lot of the general public have so many misconceptions about mental health and a lot of that comes from the way it is portrayed in the media. If you can find any clips in documentaries to show as evidence, that would be good too.

Answer 4

You could ask them about the mangosteen fruit and it's uses for depressive illnesses etc. I am sure that you will get stunned silence as the medical profession are only taught 'alopathic' medicine and how to use 'compressed chemicals'.
I do not know how brave you are but I can tell you a secret..........Very few Doctors know of the Mangosteen fruit and it's uses as a traditional anti-inflammatory, anti-oxident or for pain relief. Do you think you are brave enough to let them know that in a few years.......yes! I did say...in a few years time most people will be aware of the medicinal benefits of the mangosteen and the company Xango ltd. that produce it.
Go to Pubmed and check out.......Garcinia Mangostana.....if that looks ( as it is) too complicated to go through......i do know of a direct link to the Garcinia Mangostana section but I just cannot remember it at this time.........I will though look it up for you in case you get back to me.

Good luck and I hope you do well!

http://www.mangosteen.co.uk

Answer 5

You could look at the role the media play in portraying schizophrenics as dangerous. As you are probably aware when ever someone is attacked/murdered by a person suffering schizophrenia the media appear to come across as labelling all schizophrenics as dangerous. In actual fact you are more likely to be attacked by someone who is drunk. People with schizophrenia are not dangerous - well most of them are not - the ones that do attack tend to have drug and alcohol related problems too which is the more likely factor for them attacking as drugs and alcohol worsen schizophrenia symptoms. People with schizophrenia are more likely to bring harm to themselves than another person.

Answer 6

Do a conversation with someone in a position of power and then discuss all their mental issues and why they have to be a bit crazy to do their job.