Nowadays, rarely, if ever, does a day go by that we’re not exposed to online content. Especially so, given that a lot of us depend on our phones for work, catching up with friends, and even the practical things like paying for a meal or booking a cab. In fact, studies show that as adults, we spend several hours a day engaging with digital media. This is even more so the case with adolescents.1
What about those quiet moments in the day where you might find yourself idle? For some of us, reaching for our phone is a go-to. A quick five-minute scroll through social media or a YouTube short just to keep us entertained for a while.
It’s not just our phones either. Media can refer to what we see on TV or dictate what we hear in conversations. However, research confirms that constant exposure to media can affect how we see the world over time.2 This is especially true for more impressionable groups, like children and teenagers. 3
Sometimes, this influence can be positive. For instance, an impactful program or podcast might be the spark that opens an important conversation. However, this often isn’t the case. The media also frequently reinforces misconceptions and harmful portrayals that worsen stigma surrounding mental health.4
What’s more, the media can affect our perception of mental health. For many of us, our first ideas about mental health didn’t come from school, a doctor, or personal experience. They came from what we saw on TV or scrolled past on social media.
Let’s take a closer look at how the media shapes our outlook on mental health, and how we can challenge it.
How Media Influences Mental Health Perceptions
Have you ever seen a headline that isn’t worded in black and white, extreme terms? Probably not. That’s because the media, in particular news outlets, aim to be engaging. So while life is full of nuances and grey areas, the media tends to describe events in extremes, using words like “amazing,” “tragic,” “incredible,” “awful,” and so on. People are often portrayed in the same way: good or bad, and nothing in between.
If we see this pattern often enough, sometimes we can start to think about life in the same way, arriving at absolute conclusions that don’t account for life’s nuances.
This principle can affect a person’s views on mental illness, too. If someone’s coping with mental health issues, it’s important that their circumstances and personal journey are respected, rather than being labelled as “crazy” or as part of a statistic. Otherwise, the media can perpetuate stigma.
It’s not just the language the news media uses, either; the events covered are often extreme or unusual, too. Reporting crime or violence, when mentioned alongside mental health, can, if not treated with care, lead to negative associations between mental illness and danger.
Entertainment media furthers this, by employing harmful stereotypes or extreme symptoms for dramatic effect. Additionally, social media is known to both raise awareness of mental health issues and sustain misconceptions about them. Left unchecked, this can shape the attitudes of various groups of people toward mental health.
Mental Health Stigma in Media: Why It Persists
As mentioned earlier, the media often doesn’t represent the everyday realities of people with mental health issues or the positive stories of perseverance and recovery. The average consumer of news media is instead going to hear about the worst, most extreme cases, like criminal activity and fatalities. For instance, it’s unlikely that you’re ever going to see a news story about a mother who successfully supports her family while coping with depression.
In other words, the media is less representative of real life – but it’s also what we’re far more likely to see day to day. This imbalance reinforces the idea that mental health conditions are rare, extreme, or defining.
Why is this harmful? Because the average consumer wants to distance themselves from this identity. In the event they face their own mental health challenges, they may feel less able to open up and instead think I don’t want that to be me. This highlights the impact of media on mental health understanding.
Let’s take a closer look at some mental health misconceptions that are often reinforced by the media.
Common Mental Health Misconceptions Reinforced By Media:
- Misconception #1: People with mental health conditions are “dangerous.”
Research consistently shows that this part of the population are far more likely to be victims of violence rather than perpetrators.1 Yet, media coverage often suggests otherwise.
- Misconception #2: Mental illness defines a person completely.
This misconception causes people with rich lives and distinct personal journeys to be reduced to their diagnosis. There’s no acknowledgement of their strengths, kindnesses, or everyday experiences. A diagnosis describes a set of symptoms, not a person.
- Misconception #3: Recovery looks the same for everyone.
This misconception distorts the idea of recovery. Again, nuances are often rejected in favour of stories of recovery that are sudden and dramatic, or on the other hand, impossible. Real recovery usually appears much quieter; learning coping skills, finding the right treatment, and continuing to live life alongside ongoing difficulties. 2
Entertainment Media and Mental Health: The Good and the Bad
Films, TV shows, and streaming content each can have a different kind of influence. Unlike the news, we’re not typically presented with headlines and short succinct paragraphs. Instead, we’re often viewing a fictional world with believable characters, engaging scripts, and an altogether more emotionally forward experience that can make us laugh, cry, empathize, and reflect. In other words, a positively balanced TV show or movie can have a significant emotional impact.
However, many shows and movies rely on outdated stereotypes when it comes to mental health.5 It’s entertainment media after all, so we’re unlikely to see our protagonist attend a series of therapy sessions and make a slow, realistic recovery. Symptoms are often exaggerated, diagnoses can be used inaccurately, and treatments like medication or therapy are often misrepresented or dismissed entirely.
While fictional, these stories still leave an impression on many of us. These misunderstandings can lead to disappointment, mistrust, or reluctance to seek help.7
But what about the role of social media?
Social Media: Awareness, Misinformation, and Everything in Between
Here’s the positive: social media is exactly that, social. It’s a platform that can be used for people to share their lived experiences, find community, and challenge stigma. Ultimately, it’s a valuable means for those who feel isolated in their challenges to realize they aren’t alone.
On the other hand, it’s also a hub for short bursts of content to spread like wildfire, all the while going unchecked. Complex conditions are sometimes reduced to trending labels and bullet points that are sometimes inaccurate oversimplifications – which can impact negatively on the perception of mental health of adolescents in particular.6
This is why it’s good to encourage media literacy, especially in impressionable populations like kids and teens, so that they are able to critically evaluate content. Not just absorb it passively, but to question if it’s accurate and correct.
Why Mental Health Literacy Matters
Media literacy and mental health literacy go hand in hand. Mental health literacy refers to how well people understand mental illness, symptoms, treatment and recovery in terms of real world accuracy.
This means not getting swept up in the sensationalized, inaccurate claims on the internet or the emotional stories we see on TV. Taking time to be critical of the information presented goes a long way to preventing how the media shapes attitudes towards mental health. Moreover, it fosters a healthier, more balanced approach that encourages being open about mental health challenges and better outcomes as a result.
7 Ways to Challenge Mental Health Stigma in Media
While media influence is powerful, we are not powerless in its control over us. Small, everyday actions can help challenge stigma and promote more accurate narratives. The following steps can help balance the impact of media on our well-being and promote healthy literacy.
1. Question What You’re Being Shown
Instead of accepting portrayals at face value, pause and reflect. Is context missing? Is this realistic? Encourage challenging mental health misconceptions.
2. Seek Out Reliable Information
Look for content that references reputable mental health organisations, peer-reviewed research, or qualified professionals. Not just news outlets that use dramatic effect for engagement.
3. Pay Attention to Language
Casual use of terms like “crazy” or “psycho” may seem harmless, but they reinforce stigma. Choosing more respectful, person-first language and gently challenging stigmatizing terms when you hear them can make a real difference.
4. Share Realistic Stories
Not every mental health story needs to be either extremely inspiring or tragic. Sharing balanced, everyday experiences helps counter extreme portrayals and reminds others that mental health challenges are part of ordinary life.
5. Support Responsible Media
Follow, share, and engage with journalists and creators who handle mental health topics thoughtfully. Positive reinforcement encourages higher standards across media platforms and fosters a more balanced public perception of mental health
6. Build Media Literacy Skills
Understanding how sensationalism drives engagement helps you interpret media portrayal of mental illness.
7. Talk About Mental Health Openly
Open conversations challenge stigma. When people hear real experiences that don’t match media stereotypes, this goes a long way to dissolving the misconceptions laid out by the media.
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Mission Connection: Understanding the Real Life Complexities of Mental Health
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References
- Stuart, H. (2003). Violence and mental illness: An overview. World Psychiatry, 2(2), 121–124.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1525086/ - McCombs, M. (2014). Setting the agenda: The mass media and public opinion (2nd ed.). Polity Press.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263089412_Setting_the_Agenda_The_mass_media_and_public_opinion_2nd_edition_Cambridge_England_Polity_Press_2014 - Rideout, V., & Robb, M. B. (2018). Social media, social life: Teens reveal their experiences. Common Sense Media.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/social-media-social-life-2018 - Wahl, O. F. (2003). News media portrayal of mental illness: Implications for public policy. American Behavioral Scientist, 46(12), 1594–1600.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0002764203254615 - Klin, A., Lemish, D., & Hollander, E. (1997). Television as a source of social information about autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 27(1), 15–26.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9120374/ - O’Reilly, M., Dogra, N., Whiteman, N., Hughes, J., Eruyar, S., & Reilly, P. (2018). Is social media bad for mental health and wellbeing? Exploring the perspectives of adolescents. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 23(4), 601–613. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104518775154
- Corrigan, P. W., et al. (2012). Challenging the public stigma of mental illness. Psychiatric Services, 63(10), 963–973.
https://ps.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ps.201100376
