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News  New Tip Sheet: How To Talk About Mental Health: Addressing Misunderstandings about Mental Health in the Media

This tip sheet was developed to clear up some common misunderstandings about mental health conditions and to share strategies to talk about mental health in a more accurate and helpful way.
11/05/2019
  • Massachusetts Department of Mental Health
  • UMass Medical School Implementation Science & Practice Advances Research Center
How to talk about Mental Health graphic

The Massachusetts Statewide Youth Advisory Council (SYAC) and the Learning and Working Center at the Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research (TACR), one of our research centers here at iSPARC recently completed a new Tip Sheet about mental health misunderstandings in in the media. 

HOW TO TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH

This tip sheet was developed as a collaboration between the Massachusetts Statewide Youth Advisory Council (SYAC) and the Learning and Working Center at the Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research (TACR) to clear up some common misunderstandings about mental health conditions and to share strategies to talk about mental health in a more accurate and more helpful way. Stories in the media, such as those told through the news, TV shows, movies, books, and social media sometimes use incorrect or offensive statements to describe mental health conditions. Unfortunately, these wrong ideas can be taken as facts by people who may not know a lot about mental health. We want to bust these negative ideas about mental health and people with mental health conditions. Together, we can all play a role in changing the conversation, educating others and reducing stigma of those living with mental health conditions. 

Read the tip sheet: HOW TO TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH: Addressing Misunderstandings about Mental Health in the Media

At Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research, and our parent center iSPARC, we value the voices of people with lived mental health experience and those who support them, and we engage them in every level of our research through Advisory Boards including the Massachusetts Statewide Youth Advisory Council (SYAC). 

  • Massachusetts Department of Mental Health 

    The Department of Mental Health, as the State Mental Health Authority, assures and provides access to services and supports to meet the mental health needs of individuals of all ages; enabling them to live, work and participate in their communities.
  • UMass Medical School Implementation Science & Practice Advances Research Center

    The Implementation Science and Practice Advances Research Center (formerly known as the Systems and Psychosocial Advances Research Center) is a part of the University of Massachusetts Medical School's Department of Psychiatry. 
    iSPARC is a Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH) Center of Excellence for Public Mental Health Services and Implementation Research that aims to improve the mental and behavioral health of all citizens of Massachusetts and beyond. iSPARC is committed to transferring knowledge and insights gained through rigorous research to improve the lives of people with lived mental health experience.
    We conduct Participatory Action Research, an all-inclusive approach that ensures that every aspect of our research incorporates the voices of those with lived mental health experience.

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