Turkish newspaper articles mentioning people with mental illness: A retrospective study

Abstract

Background: Because a great majority of the public knows about mental disorders primarily through printed or visual media, the attitudes exhibited in mass media might be predictive in stigmatizing individuals with mental disorders. Aim: The aim of this study was to retrospectively assess the articles in Turkish newspapers that mention individuals with mental disorders. Method: This study was designed to retrospectively investigate and analyze newspaper content in Turkey; the newspapers’ circulation information was collected by examining the websites of the four newspapers with above 1% of the total circulation. The News Evaluation Form was used to evaluate a sampling of articles that met the inclusion criteria of having appeared in the lifestyle and agenda pages of newspapers, and of using neutral or negative labeling keywords about psychiatric patients. Results: Almost all the articles reviewed were negative toward individuals with mental disorders. Three quarters of the reports were forensic, among which two thirds of the individuals with mental disorders were criminalized, and one third were victims of crime. In approximately half of the news reports, most images were related to the news and were not protected. Although not all the articles contain stigmatizing elements directed toward people with mental disorders, two thirds of the subjects’ images in the news were found to have stigmatizing elements. Conclusion: Media has an impact on attitudes toward people with mental disorders mostly negatively along with individual experiences and peer interactions.

Opinions and experiences of nursing students about evaluating the sexual health of individuals with mental disorders: A qualitative study

“…The results of the present study are supported by those from research over the past decade, which has indicated that negative attitudes towards individuals with mental disorders among nursing students in Turkey have not changed 20,29 . Stigmatization towards individuals with mental disorders is explained by a complex structure, which includes many factors, such as the historical background of the society, the interaction of the society with patients, and the media 30 . Personal prejudices may act as barriers and may discourage students from evaluating sexual health 7 .…”

“…20,29 Stigmatization towards individuals with mental disorders is explained by a complex structure, which includes many factors, such as the historical background of the society, the interaction of the society with patients, and the media. 30 Personal prejudices may act as barriers and may discourage students from evaluating sexual health. 7 Stigmatization must be eliminated in nursing students, who are future health professionals, in the education process.…”

Experiences and opinions of nurses working in psychiatric wards on assessing patients' sexual health: A qualitative study

“…33 While stigmatization usually presents as combining mental disorder and violence, crime, unpredictability, and dangerousness, sexual aggression is also a common theme addressed in general society and in the media. 34,35 Stigmatizing attitudes toward people with mental disorders should be assessed multidimensionally, along with societal stereotypes (past to present), the individual experiences of society members and peer interactions.…”

“…Some studies report no differences in stigmatization between health professionals and the general public, while others argue that health professionals have even more negative attitudes than the general population 33 . While stigmatization usually presents as combining mental disorder and violence, crime, unpredictability, and dangerousness, sexual aggression is also a common theme addressed in general society and in the media 34,35 . Stigmatizing attitudes toward people with mental disorders should be assessed multidimensionally, along with societal stereotypes (past to present), the individual experiences of society members and peer interactions.…”

Mental disorders in the media: A retrospective study of newspaper coverage in the Chilean Press

“…Various studies show how the way in which information about people with MD is delivered encourages positive attitudes or, on the contrary, contributes to the formation of prejudices (Alyousef et al, 2019; Corrigan et al, 2013; Ross et al, 2019). The media often present distorted and negative images of MDs, associating them with aggressiveness, lack of control and criminality; people with MD are seen as a danger to others and to themselves (Aci et al, 2020; Bowen et al, 2019; Klin & Lemish, 2008; Nawková et al, 2012; Subramanian, 2018). Further research indicates that these lead to public perceptions that people with MD are violent and characterised by outbursts of anger, childlike behaviours and severe symptoms (Quintero Johnson & Riles, 2016; Reavley et al, 2016).…”