3AW’s Neil Mitchell responded to the recent debate on the effectiveness of antidepressant medication on air on 27.2.08. Mr Mitchell made some vital points in his segment, urging anyone currently taking antidepressants not to stop without professional consultation. Mr Mitchell’s program has helped break down the stigma against depression by normalising the illness. However, StigmaWatchers were distressed by the way psychosis was referred to in comparison.

Mr Mitchell made the following statement during the segment discussing depression:

‘We’re not talking here about some psychotic person shuffling down the street talking to themselves. We’re talking about the person sitting next to you on the train, maybe a member of your family you don’t know about.’

StigmaWatch contacted 3AW to pass on listener feedback; and to explain that while the stigma of depression has significantly decreased, this has not yet happened with psychotic illness.