Abstract
Media has a very specific role in forming agenda of mental health policy. In their reports, journalists directly question systemic issues, trajectories of the mental health policy and respective legislation. Media also acts as a mediator between citizens and politicians rendering understanding to the latter that their electorate is scared and supports increasing means of guardianship and control. Finally, media can ignore important outcomes of mental health policy. This strategy gives an account that mental health issues are of low importance and public scrutiny is not needed. The data for the context and content analysis derived from two main sources: online news webpage (time frame covers year 2000–2011, 1353 cases) and Parliament records of official proceedings (year 1990–2010, 567 cases). Media discourse proved to have a significant influence on political agenda, since in most cases political discussions on the topic of mental health were referred to media sources. Research data suggests that media coverage as well as the political debates on mental health are characterised by general stagnation, superficial understanding and stereotypical attitudes. This overall pattern was breached during the period of 2004–2006 which was marked by significant international events, namely the EU entrance and adoption of the Mental Health Declaration for Europe. During this period the policy of mental health received considerable attention in the media, decreased media articles related to criminalisation of mental health. The research identified major players that were able to break the vicious circle in the media and political discourse around the marginalised and stigmatised subject.
Highlights
The most common definitions of the mental health policy characterise it as an organised set of principles and objectives to improve mental health, to prevent and reduce the burden of mental disorders in a population
Media discourse proved to have a significant influence on political agenda, since in most cases political discussions on the topic of mental health were referred to media sources
Research data suggests that media coverage as well as the political debates on mental health are characterised by general stagnation, superficial understanding and stereotypical attitudes. This overall pattern was breached during the period of 2004–2006 which was marked by significant international events, namely the EU entrance and adoption of the Mental Health Declaration for Europe
Summary
The most common definitions of the mental health policy characterise it as an organised set of principles and objectives to improve mental health, to prevent and reduce the burden of mental disorders in a population. Last decades were marked with the growing international portfolio of treaties warranting rights of individuals who have disabilities, alongside with these developments scholars, especially in the United Kingdom, notice the movement of mental health policy away from the protection of persons’ rights towards “a position more concerned with minimising risk to others”, as Cutcliffe and Hannigan (2001) put it This trend is strongly influenced by news in the media: according to Paterson and Stark (2001), the introduction of means focused on surveillance of people who have psychosocial disabilities were rather consequences of negative media reporting than awareness of their actual needs
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
