Chapter 4
Interviewing
Unless we all become accustomed to seeing, hearing and reading about the personal experiences of people with mental illnesses – in much the same way as we now routinely hear from cancer patients and their families – it may be difficult to overcome centuries of prejudice and fear that have become ingrained in our society.
Voices of Experience
At the heart of the need to make these voices heard lies the fact that mental illness is far more widespread and far less to be feared than we have traditionally thought. If every Canadian is touched by mental illness in some way, as statistics clearly indicate, there is no natural divide between “us” and “them”.
Chris Summerville of the Canadian Schizophrenia Society, Katia Gagnon of La Presse and psychiatrist Dr. Phil Klassen discuss the importance of bringing people with mental illnesses back into the mainstream social fold in this video.
INTERVIEWING PEOPLE WITH MENTAL DISORDERS
Including the voices of people with mental illness in our stories, of course, first involves learning how to approach and interview people with mental disorders confidently and with empathy. Some may feel a degree of trepidation – but if so, their fear is not founded in reality.
In this video, Michel Rochon, Dr. Anthony Feinstein, André Picard, Chris Summerville, Katia Gagnon interviewing people with mental disorders offer their tips.
GAINING ACCESS
Getting the voices of people with mental illness into our stories implies having access to them. That often means giving mental health professionals reasons to trust us, and it may require a sustained effort to overcome institutional barriers. A host of ethical issues arise for journalists as well.
Hélène Magny, André Picard and Heather Stuart offer thoughts on that.
Resources
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Trauma Interviewing Module
Kate Porterfield, clinical psychologist, Ph.D., offers journalists practical questions and a framework to minimize harm when speaking to people affected by trauma.
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THE CARTER CENTER Journalism Resource Guide on Behavioral Health
The Carter Center, in partnership with Emory University, is guided by a fundamental commitment to human rights and the alleviation of human suffering.
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Words Matter: Reporting on Mental Health Conditions
The media plays a critical role in advancing our understanding of mental illness and substance disorders.