NAMI Echoes Iowa State Television and Mental Health Study Findings

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) May 5, 2008 --

Arlington, VA (May 2, 2008) The National Alliance on Mental Illness’s Bob Carolla responded to a recent Iowa State University influence of television on mental health treatment study, “The Iowa State study is right. Television’s portrayal of people who live with mental illnesses and people who work in mental health professions too often reflects negative stereotypes. It makes stigma and discrimination worse. Hollywood sometimes gets it right, but only when producers, directors and writers take the time to do their homework. There are basic standards of accuracy, fairness and compassion that still produce good entertainment.”

Bob Carolla oversees NAMI’s StigmaBuster program which seeks to address outdated, outrageous, offensive portrayals or language about persons with mental illness

About NAMI:
The National Alliance on Mental Illness is the nation’s largest grassroots organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. Founded in 1979, NAMI has affiliates in every state and in more than 1,100 local communities across the country.

Web resources:

NAMI: http://www.nami.org

NAMI StigmaBusters: http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=about_stigmabusters
Iowa State study release: http://www.public.iastate.edu/~nscentral/news/2008/apr/tvtherapy.shtml

Iowa State University     mental health