Daiga Kamerade Mass Media and Mental Disability

Policy Brief for Mental Health Advocates in Latvia

Into the mainstream- challenging stereotypes proactively

Summary

This paper argues that instead of currently widely used one-off and informational-educational campaigns that have been proved to be ineffective and expensive, mental health advocates should aim to saturate mass media by the constant flow of positive and accurate messages. Instead of challenging current strongly rooted negative stereotypes, these messages should enforce current positive attitudes towards people with mental illness and neutralise or redirect negative attitudes.

The policy brief recommends that mental health advocates in the community should become proactive in engaging the media i.e. by approaching media with well-prepared, carefully targeted information and materials. The policy further recommends that advocates should target messages and take into account mass media and publics interests.

The full text of the policy brief is here (.pdf file)

Daiga Kamerāde

Mass Media and Mental Disability

Project supported by IPF Program 2004