ACMJ Article

Abstract

Using a mixed-methods approach, this study examines the representation of mental health issues in Nigerian newspapers from January 2020 to December 2022. Articles from newspapers such as Vanguard, The Punch, The Nation, and Tribune were analysed through content analysis, and in-depth interviews were held with health desk editors. However, out of 1872 publications, only 7.8% addressed mental health, with emphasis on predominant themes of dangerousness (34.7%), stigmatisation (21.8%), and criminality (13.6%). Furthermore, derogatory language such as "madman" appeared in over 40% of these articles, supporting harmful stereotypes. Qualitative findings from interviews also revealed that editorial decisions and cultural influences heavily shape these portrayals. Journalists often lack specialised knowledge of mental health and face gatekeeping that limits balanced reporting. Additionally, mental health stories are deprioritised in favour of political and economic content, contributing to the under-representation of the issue. The study concludes that cultural influences, editorial decisions, and journalists' expertise significantly shape the representation of mental health. We recommend implementing culturally sensitive communication strategies and specialised training for journalists to improve mental health reporting


MEDIA REPRESENTATION OF MENTAL HEALTH: INSIGHTS FROM NIGERIAN NEWSPAPERS, 2024, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 25-35. PDF