Following recent comments by President Trump regarding the tragic mass shootings in the USA, Everymind and SANE have come together this week to jointly urge political representatives and commentators to avoid irresponsible commentary, including inaccurately linking mental illness to violence.
Both organisations are calling for political leaders and media commentators to take a responsible approach in commenting on tragedies such as those which occurred earlier this week in the United States.
Earlier this year SANE and Everymind jointly called for Australian politicians to sign a #StigmaPledge, promising to avoid unsafe and stigmatising language during the Federal Election campaign.
Everymind Program Manager, Suicide Prevention, Marc Bryant, said political representatives have a responsibility to practice safe communication in all engagement with their constituents and media at all times.
'It is important for all members of Parliament to lead by example in showing how everyone can play a role in reducing the proliferation of stigma including our international colleagues,' Mr Bryant said.
'Research shows that less than four percent of mass shootings have any links to mental illness.
'Many violent people have no history of mental illness and most people with a mental illness have no history of violence.'
SANE CEO, Jack Heath, said President Trump’s comments were inaccurate, irresponsible and deeply disturbing with their ramifications extending well beyond US borders.
'The language used by President Trump contributes towards ill-informed and negative community attitudes which stigmatise people living with a mental illness.
'SANE’s StigmaWatch program regularly receives feedback from people living with mental illness that when political leaders and commentators link violent behaviour to mental ill-health, it adversely affects their interaction with community members and generates feelings of isolation, discrimination and a lack of self-worth,' added Mr Heath.
Mindframe, an initiative of Everymind issued a media alert earlier this week reminding Australian media to be cautious when referring to or repeating overseas media and unsafe commentary linking the recent mass shootings to mental illness.
'This reminder was issued to avoid further stigma and minimise distress among vulnerable individuals and those with lived experience,' said Mr Bryant.
'However, despite this, there has been an alarming number of prominent media reports which have been repeated in Australian media, suggesting that mental illness is a key factor to manage in order to reducing mass shootings in the US.
'Certain language and stereotypes can contribute to negative community attitudes and stigmatise people living with mental ill-health, as well as present inaccuracies about mental illness or mental health care.
'This can lead to many people, in particular men, not seeking help early for their mental health issues due to self-stigma being a barrier.
'It is important to note that whilst the media has a public interest duty to report on all areas relating to the conversation on restricting mass shootings, this kind of reporting has been done without checks or consultation with experts.
'Mental health experts, could have challenged this commentary and provided evidence to contradict this,' added Mr Bryant.
Mindframe tips to report accurately and sensitively on this story:
- Refrain from linking violent acts to mental ill-health. Making this link can result in stigma and is inaccurate.
- Refrain from speculation around the perpetrator’s state of mind or mental health until these have been officially confirmed by authorities.
- Avoid using colloquial language such as ‘crazed gunman’ and ‘psychopath’ as this can also contribute to stigma.
- Omit explicit details of method and location when describing how perpetrators of past shootings took their own life – for example, description of specific weapons.
- Include help-seeking information for potentially distressed viewer. See below for further information.
ENDS
FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Jessica Weiland, Senior Communications Officer, Everymind
Mobile: 0468969041 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Senior Media and PR Advisor, SANE
Mobile: 0439 708 381 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Available for comment:
Marc Bryant, Program Manager, Suicide Prevention, Everymind
Jack Heath, CEO, SANE