This
group was set up by the Commonwealth government in April 2000 to advise
and direct the National Stategy for the Reporting and Portrayal of
Mental Illness and Suicide.
Membership
The group includes:
Media industry groups - including
the Press Council of Australia, the Australian Broadcasting Authority,
the Federation of Australian Radio Broadcasters, the Federation of
Australian Commercial TV Stations, and the Australian Association of National Advertiser
Consumer advocacy and advisory groups including SANE Australia
National Advisory Council on Suicide Prevention
National Mental Health Working Group
Mental Health Council of Australia
Achievements
Development of a resource kit for media professionals on reporting suicide and mental illness. Check the Mindframe website for details.
Twelve month study - Media Monitoring Project - of how journalists portray suicide and mental illness in the media.
Introduce journalism students to the concepts of safe reporting of
suicide and non-stigmatising of mental illness through The ResponseAbility project.
SANE StigmaWatch has also been expanded under this program.