The Mental Health Media Charter
In June 2019 Mike signed up to the Mental Health Media Charter. The Charter provides guidance on how to responsibly talk and write about mental health. Importantly, the Charter isn't a set of 'rules', its about providing guidance and support for us as writers and for you as readers.
If you are interested in finding out more about the Charter you can read the below or visit www.natashadevon.com/the-mental-health-media-charter
This is a set of 7 simple guidelines for ensuring imagery and language used in mental health reporting is responsible, genuinely educational and stigma-reducing.
Mission Statement
In endorsing the Mental Health Media Charter you are signalling that you are committed to discussing and reporting stories relating to mental health responsibly, helpfully and in a way that takes into account the needs of the most vulnerable members of the population. You are acknowledging the power of language and imagery in shaping social attitudes and declaring your intention to genuinely educate and to reduce stigma around mental illness.
If you work in a high-pressure, high turnover press office, it is understood that occasionally headlines or pictures will ‘slip through the net’. However, by signing up to the charter you are confirming you will do your best NOT to:
1. Use the phrase ‘commit suicide’ or ‘successful suicide’.
The term ‘commit’ suggests criminality and blame. We now understand that suicide happens when pain exceeds resources for coping with pain. It is not a criminal act in the UK and has not been since 1961.
‘Successful suicide’ contravenes what we now understand about the act – Most people who take their own life are ambivalent, in that part of them wants to live.
Best alternative: ‘Died by suicide’
Other options: ‘Attempted/completed suicide’, ‘took/ended their own life’.
2. Show ‘before’ images in eating disorder stories or pictures which could be triggering to people who self-harm.
For people who are in a healthy mindset, seeing ‘before’ pictures of people in the grips of anorexia or who have self-harmed can act as a deterrent. However, for people who are either experiencing, or in recovery from eating disorders or self-harm we now understand that these pictures can become something to ‘aspire to’, or cause distress which in turn sets back their recovery.
We also now understand that eating disorders and self-harm are mental health conditions. The lowest weight or ‘severest’ self-harm doesn’t necessarily indicate the most psychological distress. The body cannot tell the mind’s story.
3. Use the term ‘anorexics’, ‘bulimics’, ‘depressives’ or ‘schizophrenics’….
It is important to understand that a person is distinct from their illness. To label someone an ‘anorexic’ for example, suggests that they are defined by their eating disorder. This is not only unhelpful in terms of the way they are perceived by others but it might also hinder their recovery process.
Better alternative: ‘people experiencing anorexia/bulimia/depression/psychosis’.
4. Give too much detail on suicide/self-harm or eating disorder methodology.
We now understand that giving a lot of detail about how people have harmed themselves can inspire imitational behaviour – There is a delicate balance to be struck with your responsibility to report the facts of the case. Try to avoid going into too much detail, which will ensure the report is safe for all audiences. For more information on how to strike this balance, please see the Samaritans’ media guidelines.
As a general rule, stories should focus on ‘whys’ not ‘hows’.
5. Use generic terms like ‘mental health issues’ when describing terrorists and other violent criminals
99% of people with mental illnesses are more likely to harm themselves than others. In establishing a link between generic poor mental health and terrorism/violent crime, stigma and fear is increased.
Instead be specific – what mental health ‘issue’ did the perpetrator have? Was it diagnosed or is it conjecture? Was it in fact a personality disorder (being a psychopath or a sociopath is not technically a ‘mental illness’)?
You might also add a disclaimer along the lines of ‘please note most people with mental health issues/personality disorders would not commit a crime of this nature, which occur as a result of a rare combination of circumstances. We understand that the largest contributory factor is radicalisation.’
And you are pledging that you will do your best to:
6. Understand the difference between mental health and mental ill health.
Everyone with a brain has a mental health, just as everyone with a body has a physical health. By using the term ‘mental health’ to describe mental illness, an important discussion which impacts 100% of the population is confined to one quarter of it.
Instead of ‘battles with mental health’ it is therefore much more helpful to say ‘issues with mental ill health’ so that the public can understand the distinction.
7. Include links to good quality sources of support if content might trigger need for help in a reader/viewer.
The best charities and support organisations ensure their web forums are monitored for triggering content (ie users sharing self-harm or suicide techniques). They do not promote one form of therapy for financial gain but instead describe various treatment methods. They base their content on reliable evidence and have good links with research institutions.
Charities who have this ethos and you may wish to signpost to include: Young Minds, The Samaritans, CALM, The Mix, The Self-Harm Network, Beat, Mind.