WISCONSIN UNITED
for MENTAL HEALTH

Wisconsin United for Mental Health has released the 2nd edition of its Media Guide: "Open Minds Open Doors: A Guide for the Media."  The Guide, which won the Mental Health America 2009 Media Award, clarifies and simplifies the essentials of reporting on mental illnesses and suicide.  Inside you can find clear explanations of stigma's impact on society, concise guidelines for reporting on mental health issues, and an extensive list of state and national mental health resources and contacts.

The Guide offers a great way to bring media and mental health advocates together to discuss mental health stigma and discrimination and their impact on our communities.  If you are aware of any opportunities for WUMH to provide a copy of the Guide to key media persons, please contact Jane or Marilyn at Wisconsin United for Mental Health c/o Wisconsin Women's Health Foundation at 608-251-1675. 

Open Doors, Open Minds: A Media Guide is NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE as .pdf
To browse sections of document below, click on the individual links.
1. Title, Preface, Table of Contents
2. Impact of Stigma, Journalists FAQs
3. Reporting Tips
4. Example Articles
5. Wisconsin Statistics
6. Resources, Glossary, References

Other media guides:

• Reporting Suicide and Mental Illness (a resource from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing and the Hunter Institute of Mental Health about how mental illnesses and suicide have been reported in the media and guidelines for the media)
• Picture This: A Resource for Creators (.pdf; a booklet from the Entertainment Industries Council and SAMHSA created to educate those in the entertainment community about depression and suicide in an effort to bring realistic and sensitive portrayals of mental illnesses to television and movies)