The media has a significant influence on public perceptions of mental health, and the way mental health issues are portrayed in the media can have a profound impact on individuals and communities. Unfortunately, the media has not always lived up to its responsibility to report on mental health issues in a responsible and ethical manner. Sensationalized and stigmatizing portrayals of mental illness can perpetuate harmful stereotypes and contribute to the discrimination and marginalization of individuals with mental health conditions. The Rakhawy Institute for Training and Research (RITR) recognizes the critical role that media professionals can play in promoting accurate and compassionate representations of mental health issues.

 RITR is at the forefront of an ongoing initiative to establish a scientific committee that would promote ethical guidelines for contents related to mental health in the media field. Through their ongoing initiative, they aim at developing guidelines and resources to support media professionals in reporting on mental health topics in a responsible and ethical way. In this session, the panelists will explore the importance of responsible and ethical reporting on mental health topics and share their efforts to develop guidelines for media professionals.

The session will offer insights into the development of these guidelines, as well as practical tips and tools for media professionals to incorporate ethical considerations into their reporting. The panel will also discuss the importance of collaboration and partnership between mental health professionals and media professionals to ensure that mental health content is accurate, informative, and empowering.

Ultimately, this session is a call to action for media professionals to take responsibility for the impact of their reporting on mental health and to work collaboratively with mental health professionals to promote accurate and compassionate representations of mental health issues in the media.