Room for Improvement: Mixed Portrayal of Young People with Mental Illness on Australian Television News

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the present study was to review television news depiction of mental illness in children and adolescents to test the hypothesis that positive portrayals of adults with mental illness also apply to young people. Methods: Content and frame analysis of first-person depictions and overall news angle was carried out to determine whether depictions were positive, neutral or negative. Results: The media portrayal of young people with mental illnesses was mixed. Overall, 10 items (29%) of news angles were positive, 13 items (37%) neutral and nine items (26%) negative. Positive themes were significantly less frequent for young people compared to adults (10 items, 29% compared to 151 items, 66%), and negative themes were more frequent (nine items, 26% vs 21 items, 9%). First-person depictions, however, were similar for young people and adults (24 items, 69% vs 150 items, 66%). An anti-medication sub-theme was notable. Conclusions: Overall the portrayal of young people with mental illnesses on television news is not as positive as that for adults. Similar to adults, however, first-person depictions resulted in a more positive representation of young people. Fewer first-person depictions in combination with an anti-medication theme and historically less access to appropriate services for young people may have contributed to the less positive results for young people with mental illnesses.