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American Behavioral Scientist
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News Media Portrayal of Mental Illness

Implications for Public Policy

Otto F. Wahl

George Mason University

Newspapers are a primary source of information about a variety of topics, including mental illnesses. A study of 1999 newspapers revealed that dangerousness is the most common theme of stories about mental illnesses. In contrast, stories of recovery or accomplishment were found to be rare. The ratio of negative to positive stories involving mental illness decreased between 1989 and 1999, but negative stories continued to far outnumber positive ones. The potential influence of these patterns of news coverage on public attitudes and public policy are discussed.

Key Words: mental illness • mental health • media depiction • news coverage • public policy

American Behavioral Scientist, Vol. 46, No. 12, 1594-1600 (2003)
DOI: 10.1177/0002764203254615
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