Reporting on mental health
How to report on mental health challenges safely, accurately and respectfully.
Almost half of us (47%) will experience mental health challenges in our lifetimes. This could be you, or someone you care about.
Mental distress discrimination can affect people’s access to employment, housing, healthcare, social life or insurance. It can also prevent recovery and discourage people from seeking support when they most need it.
Too often, people who experience mental distress are spoken about or portrayed in ways that reinforce stigma, fear or shame.
The media has a powerful role to help shift Aotearoa New Zealand towards greater understanding, inclusion and compassion for those with lived experience of mental distress. Our guidance and tools can help media report safely and accurately about people with mental health challenges.
We are a partner in the Nōku te Ao programme, which is grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi and kaupapa Māori principles. The programme aims to uphold the mana and human rights of people with mental distress.
The Nōku te Ao media resource supports journalists, editors, producers and communicators to report on mental distress in a way that upholds the mana of all people, with care, cultural awareness, and accuracy. Click here for more details.
Mental distress can happen to anyone – in fact, one in five people in Aotearoa experience it every year. Mental distress can involve troubling, confusing or out-of-the-ordinary thoughts, feelings and behaviours. These thoughts, feelings or behaviours may persist over a period of time and disrupt daily life.
‘Mental illness’ describes a formal mental health diagnosis from a GP, psychiatrist or psychologist. If a person doesn’t have a formal mental illness diagnosis, don’t use this term to describe their experiences.
Helplines
To help people know who to contact if they need support, we recommend including free helplines when publishing stories or posts about suicide or mental distress.
Ideally include the following free helplines with your coverage, but if you can only include one, please use 1737.
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Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor.
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Lifeline 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE)
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Youthline 0800 376 633, free text 234, webchat at youthline.co.nz, DM on Instagram @youthlinenz, WhatsApp message on 09 886 5696
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Samaritans 0800 726 666
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Suicide Crisis Helpline 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
If the article includes information about suicide loss, we recommend including:
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Aoake te Rā - A free service providing support and manaaki to people who have lost someone to suicide. Visit www.aoaketera.org.nz
Safely reporting about suicide
A guide for media and digital creators and moderators about responsible reporting about suicide as a critical component in suicide prevention.
The Mental Health Foundation does not provide counselling or mental health crisis services. If you need direct support, free call or text 1737 24/7. For more free helplines visit here. If you, or someone you know, has immediate safety concerns, please call 111 or contact your local mental health crisis assessment team
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