REPORTING TIPS REPORTING TIPS. In this section: Tips for Interviewing a Person who has Mental Illness or a Family Affected by Mental Illness

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1 REPORTING TIPS In this section: Tips for Interviewing a Person who has Mental Illness or a Family Affected by Mental Illness Tips for Effective Reporting on Mental Illness and/or Suicide Suggested Language to Use When Reporting on Mental Illness or Suicide Interviewing & Reporting Checklists REPORTING TIPS

2 TIPS FOR INTERVIEWING A PERSON WHO HAS MENTAL ILLNESS OR A FAMILY AFFECTED BY MENTAL ILLNESS STORY IDEA FACT: Some people with chronic and acute diseases have been associated with higher rates of depression, including: People with coronary heart disease and history of heart attack, whose rate of depression may be as high as 65 percent Adults with diabetes, who may be twice as likely to develop depression People with cancer, of which 15 to 25 percent experience depression beyond the normal grieving period People with Down syndrome People with autism and Asperger syndrome People with sickle cell anemia STORY: It would be interesting to investigate what factors of these chronic and acute conditions play into developing depression, and what can be done to help. Setting Up an Interview: When setting up an interview with someone with a mental illness, always ask the interviewee for any special accommodations to put him or her at ease, including: Meeting at a specific place or time Being accompanied by another person during the interview Be frank and direct about the purpose of the interview. Clarity helps prepare the person for the interview. To help the interviewee feel more prepared and comfortable, send some of the questions you wish to ask ahead of time. Allow ample time for the interview. A person s experiences might be painful and he or she may need extra time to discuss difficult subject matter. During the Interview: Treat interviewees with mental illness as you would any others. A large part of the stigma associated with mental illness is that people with mental illness are different from the average person. This is not true. If you do not know something, ask. People with mental illness appreciate that you are taking the time to become informed and will answer your questions. Actively listen. As many journalists already know, while it is important to contribute to the conversation and establish rapport, be careful not to make assumptions LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS - Six- layer Ripple Effect: Each suicide death is estimated to affect at least six other people including family, friends, classmates, coworkers and others in the community. This would mean over 3900 people were affected by a suicide death in Wisconsin in 2004 (Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services- Division of Public Health). Interviewing Others Impacted by Suicide The accounts of grieving family and friends shortly after a completed suicide can be vague and incomplete. Research shows that grieving family and friends have difficulty understanding what has happened during the period immediately after a death by suicide. Answers may be extreme, problems may be minimized and motives complicated (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), et al., (Ness & Pfeffer 147, ). Surviving family and friends are at increased risk of developing other disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder. This tip does not concern the current interview, but is a consideration for developing stories. Ask questions about mental illness and substance abuse. In the case of a suicide, it is acceptable to ask if the person had any known history of documented mental illness or substance abuse. Co-occurring disorders are an important issue to address when covering mental health issues. 8 WISCONSIN UNITED FOR MENTAL HEALTH

3 TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE REPORTING ON MENTAL ILLNESS AND/OR SUICIDE Reporting on Mental Illness: Use people first language. Use phrases like a person with schizophrenia rather than describing someone as schizophrenic. Maintain the individuality of people rather than defining them by their disorder. Avoid using language directly connecting people with mental illness and violence. Ask yourself, Does my story make an incorrect connection between people with mental illness and violence? Does my story perpetuate the misconception that people with mental illness are violent? LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS Look at these numbers - Treatment of depression can alleviate the symptoms in over 80 percent of cases (National Institute of Mental Health). Try to convey that mental illness is treatable and recovery is possible. Breaking news can make it difficult to include this information, but do try to incorporate this point whenever possible. Be sensitive. Write with a special awareness that people with mental illness face negative stereotypes and labeling. Pictures are powerful. Be sensitive when using photographs with stories involving mental health issues. Photographs of people with mental illness that unnecessarily show them looking disheveled perpetuate negative stigma. REPORTING ON MENTAL ILLNESS? Talk to an Expert: The following organizations offer expert advice to the media about mental illness. NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Christine Armstrong, Media Relations Associate Phone: christinea@nami.org Mental Health America Heather Cobb, Senior Director of Media Relations Phone: mediainfo@mentalhealthamerica.net O P E N M I N D S O P E N D O O R S 9

4 Reporting on Suicide: Write the cause of death in the body of the article as someone who completed suicide rather than a suicide or committed suicide. Mental health advocates prefer completed suicide over committed suicide because committed connotes a sinful act (Arons). We often describe someone committing a crime. Someone committing adultery. When someone needs to go to inpatient services, they have been committed. Also, eliminate terms like successful or failed in distinguishing suicide deaths from nonfatal attempts at suicide as well (Arons). Do not use suicide in headlines, even for suicides that take place in public. Although the word in the headline may grab attention, it makes suicide a dramatic event that shifts focus from the tragic loss of a life and it could influence a copycat. There are unrelated exceptions, as in the term suicide bomber when reporting on terrorist activities. Copycat/ Suicide Contagion is real. Refrain from using photographs of grieving relatives and friends when a suicide has occurred. Research has found an increase in suicides following coverage of suicide stories in the media. Photographs might encourage someone contemplating suicide to act as a way to get attention, creating a dangerous copycat effect. Youth are especially susceptible to these effects (Hassan) (Lesyna, Paight and Phillips)(Schmidtke & Hafner 18, ) (Gould )(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, et al.). STORY IDEA FACT: According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 90 percent of completed suicides each year are committed by individuals with a mental illness. STORY: Increasing coverage of mental health issues in any way could help prevent many people s mental health from coming to this drastic point, encouraging those with a mental illness to seek treatment. Do not portray suicide as a heroic or romantic act influenced by one event. Over 90 percent of suicide victims have a significant psychiatric illness at the time of their death. These are often undiagnosed, untreated or both. Sensationalizing suicide as the inexplicable act of an otherwise healthy or high-achieving person who acted upon grief from a love affair, or someone who gave up after a single horrific event overlooks the long and painful process that results in completing suicide. Stories like these can encourage others to identify with the victim (Robins ) (Gould, Fisher, Parides, Flory & Shaffer 53, ) (Moscicki 40-51) (Fekete & Schmidtke ). Do not report the method or place of suicide in detail. Exposure to suicide method can encourage vulnerable individuals to imitate it. Pictures of the location further encourage imitation (Fekete ) (Sonneck, Etzersdorfer & Nagel-Kuess 38, ). Emphasize Suicide Trends: You can verify and report on suicide data found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site at Always include information about crisis intervention services in your area and a referral phone number. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: This 24/7 service is available anywhere in the United States and connects callers to a certified crisis center in their area. Toll-free: TALK (8255) 10 W I S C O N S I N U N I T E D F O R M E N T A L H E A L T H

5 Talk to an Expert: The following organizations offer expert advice to the media about suicide. Helping Others Prevent and Educate about Suicide (HOPES) Susan Conlin Opheim, President Phone: or (Work) Phone: (Cell) The Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) Anara Guard, Associate Director Phone: O P E N M I N D S O P E N D O O R S 11

6 SUGGESTED LANGUAGE TO USE WHEN REPORTING Use People First Language. The following words, as most people know, are archaic and should never be used. They are offensive, are disrespectful, are hurtful, and perpetuate stigma. crazy/ crazed nuts deranged psycho loony schizo lunatic wacko maniac See the Tips for Effective Reporting on Mental Illness and/or Suicide section for more details. The following words and phrases may have unfamiliar implications you may not know. Examine the list below to find out which terms are appropriate for reporting on mental illness. Some terminology has changed where certain phrases are more correct. afflicted with, crippled with, suffers from, victim of, stricken with All of these phrases pass negative judgment on the person s quality of life because they have a mental illness. John is afflicted with depression sounds more dramatic and can act to sensationalize mental illness. Instead, use People First Language. EXAMPLE: John, who has depression committed suicide vs. completed suicide According to Helping Others Prevent and Educate about Suicide (HOPES), mental health advocates suggest completed suicide versus committed suicide. Ended his/her life and took his/her own life are good alternatives as well. EXAMPLE: Nearly 90 percent of individuals who have completed suicide ( took their own life ended their life ) in the past year had a treatable mental illness. epidemic It is more accurate when writing about an increase in the prevalence of mental illness to use rise rather than epidemic as the latter infers a larger and sudden increase than is actually apparent (Arons). EXAMPLE: Wisconsin is experiencing a rise in the rate of youth suicides. recovery Mental health recovery is defined as a journey of healing and transformation enabling a person with a mental health disorder to live a meaningful life in a community of his or her choice while striving to achieve his or her full potential (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). psychotic This is a term used to describe altered states of reality that occur with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression. Medications used to treat these conditions are referred to as antipsychotic medications. It should not be used to describe a series of heinous acts (Arons). survivor New term used to describe family and friends who knew someone who completed suicide. 12 W I S C O N S I N U N I T E D F O R M E N T A L H E A L T H

7 the mentally ill This is not using People First Language. Instead, say: Persons or individuals with mental illness. Increased awareness on the effects of stigma and the perpetuation of stigmatized conditions has led to the formation of new phrases on the subject of stigma. It is important to become acquainted with these new terms as well as old terms. stigma A mark of shame or discredit, stain (Merriam-Webster s Dictionary). The cooccurrence of labeling, stereotyping, separation, status loss, and discrimination, in a situation in which power is exercised (Link and Phelan 363). internal or self-stigma An internal process whereby people with mental illness apply stigma to themselves (Corrigan & Kleinlein 12). This results in shame, embarrassment and isolation. external or social or public stigma A mark of shame or discredit resulting from a naïve public endorsing stereotypes of mental illness (Corrigan and Kleinlein 12), this stigma is characterized by perceptions, attitudes and stereotypes held about people who have mental illness. Usually rooted in fear and misunderstanding, these beliefs can lead to avoidance, prejudice and discrimination. Interviewing Checklist: 1. Always ask if any special accommodations are needed. 2. Be frank and direct about the purpose of the interview, preferably send questions ahead of time. 3. Allow ample time for the interview. 4. Treat interviewees with mental illness as you would any others. 5. If you do not know something, ask. 6. Actively listen. 7. The accounts of grieving family and friends shortly after a completed suicide may be incomplete. 8. In the case of a suicide, it is acceptable to ask if the person had any known history of documented mental illness or substance abuse. 13

8 Mental Illness Reporting Checklist: 1. Use People First Language. 2. Be clear and repeat important information, as you would in any interview. 3. Double-check specific symptoms and diagnoses. 4. Verify information with valid mental health resources, if necessary. 5. Ask Is mental illness relevant to the story? 6. Avoid using language that directly connects violence with people with mental illness. 7. When possible, emphasize that treatment is available and effective for mental illness. Research successful treatment rates. 8. Write with an awareness that people with mental illness face stigma, fear and discrimination. 9. Be sensitive when using photographs for stories involving mental health issues. Think about the consequences of how people with mental illness are portrayed in the media and make sensitive choices about using photographs. Suicide Reporting Checklist: 1. Use the phrases completed suicide, ended his/her life, or took his/her life. 2. Avoid using photographs or stories that glamorize suicide. 3. Do not use suicide in the headline. 4. Do not romanticize suicide as influenced by one event. 5. Do not elaborate on the method of suicide. 6. Do not refer to a suicide as failed or succeeded. 7. Do not portray suicide as an example of an individual giving up. 8. Give suicide information and resources with every story. 14 W I S C O N S I N U N I T E D F O R M E N T A L H E A L T H

9 Review examples of good and problematic reporting on mental illness and suicide. Several examples are included in the Tips for Effective Reporting on Mental Illness and/or Suicide section of this guide as well as the Example Articles section. You can also consult the following Web sites: Mental Health America: The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: O P E N M I N D S O P E N D O O R S 15

10 TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE REPORTING ON MENTAL ILLNESS AND/OR SUICIDE EXAMPLE ARTICLES Straight News Suicide Attempt- Bad Example (perpetuates stigma, fear, misconceptions) This sample article illustrates the stigma that permeates coverage of mental illness today. It is based on a combination of Wisconsin news articles obtained from the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Clipping Service. Recommended improvements are shown in the bubbles in the margin. Do not put suicide in the headline. Never use fail or succeed when referring to suicide attempts. Fact has little to do with the current story and sensationalizes violence and schizophrenia. Do not elaborate on the method of suicide or attempted suicide as this can influence copycats. Never use fail or succeed when referring to suicide attempts. Fact shows little relevance to current storyneeds more context. Lack of information perpetuates stigma that all people with schizophrenia are violent or need to be institutionalized. Fact alone perpetuates stigma of schizophrenia. has been schizophrenic characterizes John Doe as his mental illness rather than a person with a mental illness. Need to ask questions that dig deeper into the story: Did John Doe undergo treatment for schizophrenia? If untreated, how did John Doe s lack of treatment for schizophrenia impact his recent suicide attempt? Answering these questions will help provide accurate/sensitive coverage, clearing up misconceptions that people with schizophrenia are violent. 16 has suffered from severe depression passes judgment on the quality of John Doe's life. Description overshadows hope for treatment of mental illness