Topic Tuesday // Stigma// Tues 14 May, 7pm AEST

[Former-Member]

SANE Australia has just launched a video campaign to promote its StigmaWatch program (check it out here) and encourage the public to report stigmatising content that they see in the Australian media. StigmaWatch was established back in 1997 to promote responsible reporting of mental illness and suicide in the Autralian media.

We thought it would be a great time to have a chat about stigma. For the first hour of this event we will have special guest @Former-Member  with us to chat about stigma in the media. For the second hour @Former-Member  will lead a discussion on stigma more generally in our lives, how it affects us and how we approach it.

Want to receive an email reminder on the night? Hit the 'Support' button below.

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[Former-Member]

Just an update to those that have hit support so far on this event @Determined @Zoe7 @Adge @eth @Former-Member @Former-Member @BlueBay @Teej 

The video campaign as mentioned in the blurb for this event launched yesterday! Check it out here.

If you haven't already, hit the support button on this event to get a reminder on the night! Looking forward to a great discussion around stigma 🧡

[Former-Member]

Hello and welcome all! @Former-Member @eth @CheerBear @Former-Member @Owlunar @Former-Member @Determined @BlueBay @Zoe7 @Adge @Teej 

Tonight’s Topic Tuesday is going to be super interesting. For tonights event, we will have our special guest @Former-Member with us for the first hour for a community discussion around stigma in the media. Mental illness and suicide are important issues for media to cover.  When reported responsibly, the media can help reduce stigma surrounding mental illness and raise awareness of suicide prevention activities.  However, research shows when mental illness and suicide are reported irresponsibly, media stories can do ham. I will be posing questions to both the community and stigma watch in this first hour.

At 8pm, I will then be leading us on to continue to chat about Stigma in our lives more broadly!

*Just a quick note as well, please be wary when sharing information about stigmatising events or content, be sure to share without explicit or triggering descriptions. For more info on this check out our guidelines.

Without further ado, I want to welcome @Former-Member ! To start us off could you tell us about the StigmaWatch program? While @Former-Member answers that, can everyone else let us know what brought you here tonight?

[Former-Member]

Hi @Former-Member 🙂 It's great to be here with you all tonight!

SANE Australia’s StigmaWatch program was established in 1997 to promote responsible reporting of mental illness and suicide in the Australian media.  We monitor and respond to reports of inaccurate or inappropriate stigmatising portrayal of mental illness and suicide in the media.

The Australian Press Council and Mindframe’s reporting guidelines inform all of the work that we do.  We work with journalists across the country to provide constructive feedback and advice on how to responsibly report stories about mental illness and suicide.  We also raise the profile of media that fairly and accurately portrays mental illness.

[BlueBay]

Hi @Former-Member  I’m interested to chat tonight because I feel there is still stigma on mental health and especially BPD which I have. I tend to not tell anyone about my BPD. 

[Zoe7]

What really brought me here tonight is the stigma I found at work around Mental Illness @Former-Member and the adverse affects it had on me at the time. Also interested in the way MI is portrayed in the media and the wider effects that has on the way the wider community think about MI.

[BlueBay]

How do you reduce or get rid of the stigma that BPD sufferers are “attention seekers”

[Former-Member]

Hi @BlueBay and @Zoe7 - so glad to have you with us and to bring discussion around your interests here!

[Former-Member]

Hi @BlueBay and @Zoe7 🙂

[Former-Member]

hey @BlueBay - we are going to approach stigmatising ideas and thoughts a bit later in tonights event when we look at everyone's own experiences and explore. Hold on to that question and thought though for then 😊👍🏼