Mental Health Communication Resources

Each year, 20% of American adults face a mental health condition, and 1 in 25 lives with a serious mental illness. However, research and experience show that shifting how we talk about mental health can help reduce stigma and stereotypes.

Journalists and frontline healthcare providers (e.g., physicians, nurses, pharmacists, etc.) have a powerful influence on how society views and talks about mental health and serious mental illness. Training these professionals — especially students — to communicate accurately and sensitively about mental health can create a ripple effect of positive change.

In 2019, with support from the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, we created resources to address one key question; How can we best raing healthcare professionals and journalists in mental health communication, and why does it matter?

Mental Health Communication: What We Know and What We Can Do Better

Focusing on traditional journalists and healthcare providers, we reviewed existing research on mental health communication, including stigma, provider challenges, and journalistic framing. This whitepaper summarizes key findings and offers four evidence-based recommendations to improve communication. Our goal is to provide practical, approachable solutions; to help change how we talk about mental health.