Research article summary (published 29 Jun 2006):

On-screen portrayals of mental illness: extent, nature, and impacts.

Full Abstract

This article reviews the published literature on the extent, nature, and impacts of portrayal of mental illness in fictional films and television programs. The literature suggests that on-screen portrayals are frequent and generally negative, and have a cumulative effect on the public's perception of people with mental illness and on the likelihood of people with mental illness seeking appropriate help. The article concludes that there is a need for the mental health sector and the film and television industries to collaborate to counter negative portrayals of mental illness, and to explore the potential for positive portrayals to educate and inform, as well as to entertain.

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Author information

Author/s: Pirkis, Jane (J); Blood, R Warwick (RW); Francis, Catherine (C); McCallum, Kerry (K);

Affiliation: Program Evaluation Unit, School of Population Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. j.pirkis(-atsign-)unimelb.edu.au

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Review

Journal: Journal of health communication (J Health Commun), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: -2006 Jul-Aug; vol 11 (issue 5) : pp 523-41

Dates: Created 2006/07/18; Completed 2006/09/12; Revised 2007/11/15;

PMID: 16846952, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Humans Mental Disorders Motion Pictures as Topic

Public Opinion Television Victoria

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