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Dramas and soaps 'aid public understanding of mental health issues' | Dramas and soaps 'aid public understanding of mental health issues' |
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Soap operas and news reports about mental health can play a valuable role in increasing understanding of depression, anxiety and schizophrenia, and in encouraging people with problems to seek help, research has suggested. | Soap operas and news reports about mental health can play a valuable role in increasing understanding of depression, anxiety and schizophrenia, and in encouraging people with problems to seek help, research has suggested. |
The mental health charity Mind organised a survey of more than 2,000 people, which found that half of the respondents who had seen a storyline involving a character with mental health problems said it had helped their understanding of the issues. | The mental health charity Mind organised a survey of more than 2,000 people, which found that half of the respondents who had seen a storyline involving a character with mental health problems said it had helped their understanding of the issues. |
Nearly a third of people with a mental health problem said they were encouraged to seek help after seeing or reading a news story, while a quarter were prompted to get assistance after seeing a soap opera or drama involving a character with mental illness. | Nearly a third of people with a mental health problem said they were encouraged to seek help after seeing or reading a news story, while a quarter were prompted to get assistance after seeing a soap opera or drama involving a character with mental illness. |
Paul Farmer, chief executive of Mind, said: “These statistics show just how powerful all forms of media can be in encouraging people to go and see their GP, call a helpline or just get in touch with a friend or a family member with a mental health problem. | Paul Farmer, chief executive of Mind, said: “These statistics show just how powerful all forms of media can be in encouraging people to go and see their GP, call a helpline or just get in touch with a friend or a family member with a mental health problem. |
“Media portrayals and reporting, when done well, can be a lifeline. Drama storylines in particular can help people who might be struggling to feel less alone, and they play a vital role in signposting to the help and support that is available. It’s fantastic that we are seeing more media coverage which offers a sensitive, compelling and realistic representation of mental health.” | “Media portrayals and reporting, when done well, can be a lifeline. Drama storylines in particular can help people who might be struggling to feel less alone, and they play a vital role in signposting to the help and support that is available. It’s fantastic that we are seeing more media coverage which offers a sensitive, compelling and realistic representation of mental health.” |
The survey results suggest that dramas have improved from a time when storylines involving people with mental health problems were frequently based on negative stereotypes. | The survey results suggest that dramas have improved from a time when storylines involving people with mental health problems were frequently based on negative stereotypes. |
Mind, along with Bipolar UK, and Action on Postpartum Psychosis, worked with the soap EastEnders for a storyline over Christmas and the new year about a character with postpartum psychosis, a severe mental illness that normally occurs shortly after giving birth. Postpartum psychosis was also the subject of a BBC One documentary this year, part of the channel’s widely praised In the Mind season exploring mental health issues. | Mind, along with Bipolar UK, and Action on Postpartum Psychosis, worked with the soap EastEnders for a storyline over Christmas and the new year about a character with postpartum psychosis, a severe mental illness that normally occurs shortly after giving birth. Postpartum psychosis was also the subject of a BBC One documentary this year, part of the channel’s widely praised In the Mind season exploring mental health issues. |
Mind’s publication of its survey coincided with its annual media awards, which aim raise raise awareness of mental health problems and tackle stereotypes. | Mind’s publication of its survey coincided with its annual media awards, which aim raise raise awareness of mental health problems and tackle stereotypes. |
Maisie Williams, an actor in Game of Thrones, who also appeared in the Mind Media Awards’ winning drama, Cyberbully, shown on Channel 4 in 2015, said: “After Cyberbully was aired in the UK we had the anti-bullying line on afterwards and they had a massive influx in calls from kids and teenagers who had been too frightened to speak out and try to stop whatever [was] happening. I feel it gave them the confidence to do that.” | Maisie Williams, an actor in Game of Thrones, who also appeared in the Mind Media Awards’ winning drama, Cyberbully, shown on Channel 4 in 2015, said: “After Cyberbully was aired in the UK we had the anti-bullying line on afterwards and they had a massive influx in calls from kids and teenagers who had been too frightened to speak out and try to stop whatever [was] happening. I feel it gave them the confidence to do that.” |