Stepping forth: Representation of people with mental health issues in Norwegian newspapers 1950-2020

Abstract

Since 1950, remarkable changes have occurred in both mass media, mental healthcare, and mental health discourse. Despite mass media’s pivotal role in reflecting and shaping societal attitudes about mental illness, little scholarly attention has been dedicated to the historical development of media representations of individuals with mental health issues. In this study, unique historical data serve as foundation for analysis of Norwegian newspaper articles about mental illness from 1950 to 2020. Through combining quantitative and qualitative methods, the analysis of selected news stories illuminates how these stories both complement and challenge medical and journalistic authority. Two main findings emerge. Firstly, notwithstanding the authoritative status of expert voices, individuals with mental health issues have transitioned from being essentially absent to becoming increasingly visible in the news. However, secondly, these individuals primarily represent lighter illnesses, or “general”, unspecified mental health conditions. Consequently, one may question the assumption of destigmatization for all mental illnesses, including more severe diagnosis. In conclusion, this study underscores the role of media professionalization, tabloidization, and technology in fostering societal openness to mental illness.