About the Project
[ Background ] [ Project Team ] [ Project Updates ] [ Obtaining Resources ]
Background
This website, based on the print resource Reporting Suicide and Mental Illness, provides practical advice and information to support the work of media professionals by informing them about sensitive and appropriate reporting of suicide and mental illness.
The media has an important role to play in influencing social attitudes towards and perceptions of suicide and mental illness. Most members of the media report suicide and mental illness responsibly, and the media industry has been actively involved in helping to reduce suicide rates and addressing stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness.
- Generally suicides are not reported in the Australian media. Reports, when made, are usually presented with care to minimise the pain for relatives and friends. Most media try to ensure that suicide is not portrayed as a way to solve personal problems or glamorised in any way.
- In general, the media takes a sensitive attitude to reporting mental illness, and to interviewing people who have, or have had, a mental disorder.
However research on media reporting of suicide and mental Illness shows there is still progress to be made.
The Mindframe Media and Mental Health (MMMH) project is one of a suite of projects on suicide, mental illness and the media developed as part of the national media strategy. The MMMH project is coordinated by the Hunter Institute of Mental Health in partnership with the Australian Network for Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention for Mental Health (Auseinet), SANE Australia and Multicultural Mental Health Australia. MMMH aims to build a collaborative relationship with the Australian media and mental health systems to enable a more accurate and sensitive portrayal of suicide and mental health issues across all news media in Australia. Key activities undertaken by the project include:
- the development of a resource kit for use by media professionals including the companion website; and
- delivery of face-to-face briefings with a diverse range of media organisations providing opportunity for discussion on issues to consider when reporting.
The print and web based resources are designed to help media professionals continue to report suicide and mental illness responsibly and accurately and to ensure that:
- when suicide is reported, coverage reinforces the attitude that there are alternatives to suicide and that help is available;
- reporting of mental illness is based on accurate information, challenges stereotypes and myths about mental illness and encourages people with mental health concerns to seek help;
- members of the media understand the potential impact of reporting on suicide and mental illness, based on the evidence from up-to-date research;
- research on suicide and mental illness, and information on reliable sources of data and expert comment, is available to media professionals when preparing a story; and
- appropriate contact details are provided for services to help people distressed or prompted to act by a story.
The Mindframe Media and Mental Health (MMMH) Project and Mindframe for the Mental Health Sector (MMHS) are coordinated and managed by a project team at the Hunter Institute of Mental Health in partnership with SANE Australia, the Australian Network for Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention for Mental Health (Auseinet) and Multicultural Mental Health Australia.
Click Here for more information about the project team and partners.
More information about the Mindframe Media and Mental Health project is available in the following downloadable documents:
Project update - January 2010 - May 2010
Project update - July 2009 - December 2009
Project update - January 2009 - June 2009
Project update - June 2008 - December 2008
Project update - January 2008 - May 2008
Project update - July 2007 - December 2007
Project update - January 2007 - June 2007
Project update - June 2006 - January 2007
Project update - January 2006 - May 2006
Project update - Key achievements, January 2004 - December 2005 (Full report) (Summary report)
Project timeline - Key activities January 2009 - May 2010
Project timeline - Key activities May 2002 - December 2009
Evaluation report - Qualitative evaluation report, May 2006
Evaluation report - Briefings with media sector representatives, February 2004 - December 2005
Evaluation report - Awareness and use of key Mindframe resources, December 2005
Project media briefings - Outline of briefings and meetings 2002 - 2010
For other enquiries or feedback on the website and project resources contact Mimi Simeonov, Tel: 02 4924 6904 or Email: mindframe@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au at the Hunter Institute of Mental Health
PDF copies of the Reporting Suicide and Mental Illness resource can be downloaded by right-clicking and selecting "Save As" from the links below:
Full Resource Book (updated 2009) ~ 671kb
Mental Illness Quick Reference Card ~ 92kb
Suicide Quick Reference Card ~ 91kb
Self-harm Quick Reference Card ~ 93kb
Euthanasia Quick Reference Card ~ 95kb
For more downloads, please see the Downloads section of this website.
Media professionals can access print copies of the Reporting Suicide and Mental Illness resource from:
Hunter Institute of Mental Health
Tel: 02 4924 6904
Fax: 02 4924 6909
Email: mindframe@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au
