The depiction of people with schizophrenia in news media: A cross-national analysis

Abstract

Background

Though people with schizophrenia have been habitually stigmatized in the media, the past two decades have seen a substantial rise in public awareness and anti-stigma intervention plans.

Aims

In this comprehensive cross-national study, we examine the portrayal of people with schizophrenia in the news media across four countries: the U.S., the U.K., Russia, and Israel.

Methods

We employed thematic content analysis to analyze 80 articles from four prominent middle-market and tabloid news media outlets.

Results

Findings suggest people with schizophrenia were routinely depicted in the news media as violent and dangerous perpetrators who were typically young adult white males.

Conclusions

Though some differences existed between venues in different countries, this study suggests that despite the rise in public awareness and anti-stigma intervention plans, the media overall - regardless of country origin - mostly failed to deliver the desired anti-stigma results.