Cultivating Courage, Compassion, and Cultural Sensitivity in News Reporting of Mental Health
When invited to write a chapter on journalism for this textbook on mental health and diversity, a question came to mind that the readership might also have: what wisdom can journalists impart to mental health professionals about diversity? What lessons ha
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Cultivating Courage, Compassion, and Cultural Sensitivity in News Reporting of Mental Health Linda R. Ocasio and Karen Weintraub
Introduction When invited to write a chapter on journalism for this textbook on mental health and diversity, a question came to mind that the readership might also have: what wisdom can journalists impart to mental health professionals about diversity? What lessons have journalists learned navigating their profession’s changing landscape that may translate well to those mental health professionals? This chapter will look at the ways in which journalists may (or may not) take into account the many facets of cultural sensitivity when covering mental health issues. It will also address mental health itself as a multidimensional diversity issue. While those living with mental illness are routinely discriminated against in society, mental illness itself discriminates against no one. It affects people of all races, religions, economic statuses, creeds, ethnicities, gender identities, and sexual orientations. It is through this lens of complexity and layers of cultural sensitivity that this chapter aims to make the connection between journalism and mental health. The chapter will discuss the case of Crownsville State Hospital, where news coverage that incorporated cultural sensitivity benefitted the individuals who lived there. The chapter also addresses the historical case of Nellie Bly, a journalist who was willing to have herself committed in order to expose the poor conditions of an early asylum that served women. The authors review recent examples of how the print news media currently handles stories dealing with mental health issues for insight on what is helpful and what is potentially damaging or contributes to stigma for individuals living with mental health issues and the providers who care for them. L.R. Ocasio, B.A., M.B.A., J.D. National Coalition of Independent Scholars, Jamaica Plain, MA, USA e-mail: [email protected] K. Weintraub, M.S. (*) Freelance Health/Science Journalist, 9 Leonard Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA Freelance Health/Science Journalist, Boston, MA, USA e-mail: [email protected] R. Parekh (ed.), The Massachusetts General Hospital Textbook on Diversity and Cultural Sensitivity in Mental Health, Current Clinical Psychiatry, DOI 10.1007/978-1-4614-8918-4_12, © Springer Science+Business Media New York 2014
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L.R. Ocasio and K. Weintraub
Finally, we analyze how suicide is reported in news media and to what extent cultural sensitivity is considered relevant in that reporting. By examining case studies, patterns and histories, together we will explore ways that mental health professionals may learn from the evolving world of journalism. The chapter also brainstorms ways that journalists may collaborate with mental health professionals to increase awareness of cross-cultural issues within mental health and help reduce the stigma associated with one of the most marginalized populations in society, those living with mental illness. Looking at these c
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