Year: 2004 Source: Halifax: Nova Scotia Health, (December 2004). 15p. SIEC No: 20050785

The aim of this study was to investigate how the non-fiction media in Canada portray both suicide & mental health, & to test the feasibility of asking the general public to monitor media in the province of Nova Scotia using standardized checklists. The authors found that media reporting of mental illness was generally of good quality & focused less on themes of crime & violence than may have been expected. However, the portrayal of suicide was significantly less appropriate. Recommendations for improving media reporting in this area are made. (20 refs)