Claire Peacock
"The storyline which saw Claire sectioned for mental health issues after developing post natal depression was similarly criticised by health workers, who opined that the plot line was poorly handled, and could potentially prevent women suffering from the condition from seeking help."
http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/44989361.html
'Skins' episode draws complaints
Lucy Russell of charity Young Minds said: "It could stop young people getting help."
http://www.mind.org.uk/news/4233_mind_mental_health_media_awards_2010_winners_announced
Method: Fourteen television dramas that included at least one character with a mental illness, shown in prime-time during a 1-year period, were systematically viewed and analysed.
Results: Fifteen of the 20 mentally ill characters were depicted as physically violent toward self or others. Characters were also depicted negatively as simple or lacking in comprehension and appearing lost, unpredictable, unproductive, asocial, vulnerable, dangerous to self or others because of incompetent behaviours, untrustworthy, and social outcasts, and positively as caring or empathic.
Drama — sponsored by CALM
Shameless: Series 7 (Channel 4)
Manchester based comedy drama Shameless explores bipolar disorder as character Karen tries to deal with the death of her best friend Mandy.
The impact of the mass media on public images of mental illness: media content and audience belief
Abstract
An analysis of media content in April 1993 found that two-thirds of items dealing with mental health issues forged a link between mental illness and violence. Using some of this material, the impact on the beliefs of an audience sample was explored. Six general groups and one user group took part in the study. Two-fifths of the general sample believed mental illness to be associated with violence and gave the media as their source. While some respondents with personal knowledge of mental illness, including the user group, rejected the dominant media message, others accepted it against the evidence of their own eyes. The findings indicate the importance of working with the media to destigmatise mental health problems.
Mental illness depictions in prime-time drama: Identifying the discursive resources
Objective: The aim of this study was to determine how the mentally ill are depicted in prime-time television dramas.
Method: Fourteen television dramas that included at least one character with a mental illness, shown in prime-time during a 1-year period, were systematically viewed and analysed.
Results: Fifteen of the 20 mentally ill characters were depicted as physically violent toward self or others. Characters were also depicted negatively as simple or lacking in comprehension and appearing lost, unpredictable, unproductive, asocial, vulnerable, dangerous to self or others because of incompetent behaviours, untrustworthy, and social outcasts, and positively as caring or empathic.
Conclusions: These data are consistent with an overwhelming negativity of depictions of the mentally ill found in other forms of media and settings, and contribute to the stigmatisation of this population.
