Media coverage of mental health issues

Hi Guys,

Just wanted to point out a few peices of media coverage that I thought were really positive with regard to creating awareness about the problems with the mental health services in Ireland and also the unnecessary stigma attached to mental health in Ireland.

The first of these is the media campaign that the Irish Times are featuring regarding the issue of suicide in Ireland. This is something that I feel really strongly about, as I feel so much can be done, and I think it is appalling that more people are dying in Ireland by suicide than by road crashes, yet so little is being done. Personally I found it comforting to realise that I am not the only person frustrated!!!

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2010/1113/1224283217143.html

I also was taking a look at the amnesty international website for mental health in Ireland and I thought they had some interesting stuff and they also have a portal where you can write a letter to the government to complain about lack of funding and cuts in funding for mental health services in Ireland.

http://www.amnesty.ie/mentalhealth

Also, came across a website called www.headline.ie which corresponds to media coverage of mental health issues, and is basically being used to inform journalists of how to report on mental health related issues. I dont know how insightful the stuff on the website is but I guess we can always have our say on it!!

http://www.headline.ie/haveYourSay/opinions/

It also allows you to complain about offensive articles or talk about ones that you thought were good... so it could be a good place to vent...

Anyway thats my good news for now. Small steps add up - I believe this problem will have to come full circle eventually. We can all be part of that change.

Martha x x