Using participatory video to challenge the stigma of mental illness: a case study

Authors:
BUCHANAN Avril, MURRAY Michael
Journal article citation:
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 14(1), 2012, pp.35-43.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis

Despite advances in the treatment of different forms of mental ill health, it continues to attract substantial stigmatisation, with public attitudes being increasingly negative. While reviews have highlighted the extensive research on the nature of this stigma, there is limited work on the development of strategies to challenge the stigma. The aim of this case study was to examine the potential of researchers and mental health service users (MHSUs) working collaboratively to identify the main problems the service users experience in their everyday lives and to produce a video challenging the negative image of mental ill health. Discussions were held with volunteers involved in a mental health media action group; all volunteers had been or were currently MHSU. These discussions identified a variety of problems including difficulties in everyday social interaction and negative portrayal of mental ill health in the media. A short video was developed with volunteers summarising the issues they had raised: this was subsequently shown to a wider audience. The MHSUs reported considerable personal benefits of participation in the project. The paper discusses these findings and the process of producing the video.

Subject terms:
mental health problems, public opinion, stigma, videos;
Content type:
research
Location(s):
United Kingdom
Link:
Journal home page
ISSN print:
1462-3730

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