Schizophrenia in the News: The Role of News Frames in Shaping Online Reader Dialogue about Mental Illness

ABSTRACT

A quantitative content analysis examined the portrayal of schizophrenia in eight of the most read online news publications in the United States. The analysis documented the prevalence of stigma frames, which communicate stereotypes concerning schizophrenia, and stigma-challenge frames, which contradict stereotypes, in 558 articles related to schizophrenia. The study also examined the relationship between media framing and reader commentary, including the likelihood of readers posting stigmatizing comments, stigma-challenging comments, and comments in which they disclosed personal experience with mental illness. Stigma frames were prevalent in the sample, suggesting the news media continue associating schizophrenia with violent and criminal behavior. Stigma frames stood greater chance of being accompanied by stigmatizing comments from readers when compared to stigma-challenging frames. Conversely, stigma-challenging frames stood greater chance of being accompanied by stigma-challenging comments from readers. Readers were more likely to disclose personal experience with mental illness when they encountered a stigma-challenging frame. Recommendations are made for journalists and health communicators.

Notes

1. For example, the sample contained the following challenge statements: “There is a very big difference between someone who has depression and/or anxiety and someone who is willing or capable of killing innocent people...Please be responsible in reporting such events, particularly when nothing is certain with regards to mental health status,” and “The idea that ‘mentally ill’ isn’t you is a coin fip (sic): At any given time, something like 20% of us are suffering psychological distress significant enough for diagnosis,” and “Severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia deveop (sic) during the tumultuous stages of adolescence and young adulthood. Fortunately, this period of development also affords opportunities to interface with many different types of professionals with a unique and vested (interest) in a young person’s health and well-bing (sic),” and “Many who suffer from this brain disease are highly creative but rarely get the opportunity to shine. I’m attending an art show at the end of this month to view art made from (sic) people with the disease.

2. Stigmatizing statements included: “I’m OK with executing crazy people like him, the faster the better,” and “The emotional, psychological, chemical, sexual and physical abuse hat (sic) occurs on these wards at the hands of both other patients and staff is controversial. Sadly, psychiatric wards are as archaic and harmful as ever,” and “The contry (sic) has plenty of crazy people with potential for violence,” and “Crazy or not, a mad dog needs to be put down,” and “my relative has had some 20 years of failed treatment...It is traumatic beyond belief. He is now locked in a secure Ward—reason—he wont (sic) to (sic) submit to humiliating and degrading injections—locked in a building all day, lockd (sic) in bedroom at night, locked in dining room. One flew over the cuckoo’s nest nuthouse.”