Mediating Mental Health: Contexts, Debates and Analysis

The problem of how mental health is represented is now a global issue with a number of agencies expressing concern about it. With mental health conditions rising, it is essential that more is known more about mental health, thus raising the question of how understanding of mental health can be improved. This book offers a detailed critical analysis of the representation of mental health conditions across a range of fictional and factual genres in film, television and radio, thus presenting an understanding of the ways in which media forms construct a mental health space, portray the related realities and identities, organize meaning about mental health through language, and addresses audiences in respect of a range of mental health issues.In the light of this analysis, Mis-Mediating Mental Health examines the impact of stigma upon people who experience mental distress and social exclusion; before discussing of the findings of several UK-based studies investigating the attitudes of people with experience of a mental health conditions towards such representations. With an understanding of the cultural knowledge that exists with respect to mental health and an examination of the ways in which people with experience of mental health conditions, can help to develop new transformed images about mental health, this book offers useful practical recommendations for developing media practice.As such, it will appeal to sociologists, mental health experts, and anyone interested in the representation of social groups in the media.