Analysis of Media Items and Their Impacts on Australian Indigenous People's Mental Health Issues

This research analyzes the portrayal of mental health and illness among Australian Indigenous people in media items. It explores the effects of media on mental health and the role of media in shaping perceptions and stereotypes. The analysis reveals both positive and negative impacts, highlighting the need for responsible reporting.

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INDIGENOUS HEALTH PERSPECTIVES
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AN ANALYSIS OF MEDIA ITEMS AND THEIR IMPACTS ON AUSTRALIAN
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE’S MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
Introduction
The population of Indigenous people in Australia is approximately 3%. They are said to
be culturally and more linguistically advanced (Henderson, Kendall, & See, 2011). It is evident
that even though they make a small population of Australia they are very much disadvantaged
than the non-Indigenous Australians. Much effort has been put to close the health gap which
leads to life expectancy gap but the problem is yet to eradicate. Indigenous group and the other
Australians’ life-expectancy still stands estimated at; for the females, a 9.7 years gap and for
males, an 11.5 years gap respectively according to Australian Bureau of statistics (Rosenstock et
al, 2013).
Media news items and their effects on the Indigenous health and wellbeing problems
The way the media portrays the Indigenous people’s wellbeing and health problems have
diverse effects either negatively, positively and neutrally. Negative effects are estimated at 74%
while positive and neutral effects are set at 15% and 11% respectively (Stoneham, Goodman, &
Daube, 2014). The causes of negative effects are mainly; crime, suicide, alcoholism, the number
of deaths in jails, child abuse among others hence it attains the highest percentage. Research
shows that other negative effects are brought about by how the media portrays the stereotypes
against the Indigenous people in Australia and this brings about racism which contributes highly
to health inequalities (Peri, 2012). The positive effects are mainly; success, wellbeing and social
security among others. Neutrality focus is mainly on; the balance between the good and the bad
impacts and not taking any sides.
Analysis based on three media items conducted shows the print media in charge of West
Australian“https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/The-portrayal-of-mental-health-in-
Australian-daily-Kenez-O%27halloran/8f21e819637f23523baffd0c6c92c2cafbc61368”, The
Sunday Times“https://theconversation.com/bad-news-negative-indigenous-health-coverage-
reinforces-stigma-24851” and The Australian from the ABC Online news and other online news
“https://theconversation.com/africa/topics/mental-health-343”(Kenez, O'halloran, &Liamputtong,
2015). The objective of studying these three news items is to provide more information on how
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they affect the mental wellbeing of the Indigenous people in Australia (Gurung, 2013). The
media assumes a vital job in encircling the manner in which people consider or think about
issues they portray. At the point when Indigenous individuals are tenaciously depicted as
alcoholics, and vicious culprits, it can fuel supremacist dispositions among the more extensive
populace and this kind of prejudice majorly affects the soundness of the health of Indigenous
Australians (Miller, 2012).
Now and again, these generalizations can be disguised, making a feeling of disgrace and
displaying hindrances to taking an interest in standard society. This propagates the cycle of a
disservice. However, it would not be proper to accuse the media in segregation for negative
depictions of the Indigenous wellbeing. Attracting attention regarding issues experienced in
Indigenous people group is a real and well-attempted methodology for the individuals who try to
produce activity. Media inclusion of weakness and negative results is frequently exhibited by
writers as a reaction to remarks by backers for activity, and as a method for communicating and
creating concern and shock, and looking for a change.
There is additionally an authentic job for media in announcing proof based data
identifying with weakness. Despite the fact that these issues are critical to feature, especially
from a support point of view, they recount to just a large portion of the story and once in a while
give positive angles and hopes for the people living with mental issues (Tsey et al, 2010). Not
giving a full story about the positivities or negativities of the Indigenous people leaves them a
contradictory situation.
Psychological issues and wellbeing were also undertaken as the comparison content. The
three items had 2.7% of articles on awareness and mental health issues understanding among the
Indigenous people. Additionally, 16.4% of articles were on the basis of policy and funding of
healthcare facilities to improve the mental problems amongst them. This shows that there was
the positive side of the media items and the negative side. The media items about the illness
among the Indigenous group, articles were portrayed on different percentages; “mood disorder
16.9%, anxiety disorder 9.8%, psychotic disorder 11.1%, stress-related illness 1.3%, unspecified
illness at 7.6%”. The causes and treatment of these mental problems were discussed at about
3.6% and 2.7% respectively. An overall on the health well being of this group was estimated at
maintenance and illness prevention articles were about 11.1% and the wellbeing and positive
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psychology articles were 16.9%. The learning outcomes of the media influence from the three
news items about mental health were more positive than negative and measures of neutralizing
the two effects were shown to have promising fruits.
Some portrayed news and their perception impact
The reason for ailment: Numerous kinds of mental issues were examined as hereditary
with a physiological clarification, which was frequently proofed by a medicinal expert. One
article invalidated this case expressing "the case for a natural reason for melancholy has been
terribly exaggerated". Moreover, negative psychological wellness results were credited to
weights of present-day life, for example, expanded remaining tasks at hand and societal desires
(Skelton, &Croyle, 2012). State of mind and tension were additionally frequently exhibited as
coming about because of mental injury, with immediate and backhanded physical injuries as
contributors. Perception of such stories can be positive if it is used to create awareness about
mental health. It can lead to more negative effects is misunderstood because of the readers
especially the Indigenous people living with it.
Control and self-responsibility: Responsibility for the conduct, especially in crime-related
behavior, was a solid center, in spite of the fact that reference to a particular issue was not
constantly made. A few articles announced that in light of the fact that the culprit was rationally
sick, their activities were forgivable, while others proposed this was excessively tolerant. Control
of psychological instability and keeping up emotional well-being at the individual dimension was
routinely talked about as the reader’s normally confined as a woman possess an obligation to be
overseen through the individual-improvement approaches displayed (Gould, Watt, Cadet-James,
& Clough, 2015). A few articles underscored this significance of personal-administration by
featuring the dread of stigmatization by others.
Diagnosis and labelling: Dysfunctional behavior was regularly portrayed as being of
pestilence extents; in any case, this was addressed and credited to the developing meaning of
psychological issue, just as the impact of personal stakes (Boroughs, Krawczyk, & Thompson,
2010). For example, pharmaceutical organizations prompting over-analysis: The disgrace related
with being named as rationally sick was talked about as having weakened after some time
because of expanded mindfulness, and a few articles accentuated that cliché thought of
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dysfunctional behavior were false. For example, "examination globally demonstrates that
individuals with psychological sickness are bound to be the people in question, not the culprits of
a vicious crime.” Contrary, few articles introduced cliché ideas, especially in connection to the
crazy ailment.
The outcomes and impacts of the study about the role of media items on the psychological
wellbeing of Australia’s Indigenous people
Positive results from overseeing dysfunctional behavior, and keeping up general
emotional wellness, were stressed as being beneficial, attractive and to be yearned for, for
instance: "these days, life has never been something more. I acknowledge life more fully".
Moreover, the general examinations were done for the body and mental association, with a two-
way positive effect among psychological and appearance wellbeing, underscored. The impact of
this repetitive positive news on the three different papers was a stepping stone for the mental
healthiness. Many Indigenous Australians were encouraged to go for medical care and others
knew mental illness would be treated.
While positive results to a great extent highlighted, negative results coming about
because of having a psychological instability were likewise talked about. Criminal behavior was
basically blamed on the individual lack of control, putting in mind that an estimate of 26% of the
prisoners in Australia is from the Indigenous group. Also, it was said that the efforts to reduce
the life longevity gap has been hard. “The life-expectancy between the Indigenous group and the
other Australians still stands estimated at; 9.7 years gap for the women and an 11.5 years gap for
men respectively,” according to, (Rosenstock et al, 2013). The repetition of the negative news on
the media worsened some situations among the Indigenous people. This led to more
stigmatization both public and self. This portrayal also led to a higher degree of racism, health
inequality, and discrimination (Slovic, 2013).
On the grounds of neutrality, many articles appeared to be contracting each other because
they based their beliefs around mental illness and mental wellbeing without adequate
referencing. Also like many, as positives were being shown by the media the same way negatives
were shown. It is evident that some articles encouraged stigma while others helped in eradicating
it. Mindframe Resource was reported as the best in bringing up both positives and negatives
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basing on facts and not myths as presented by some media items (Siegel, 2014). The effect of the
repetitive media on the neutrality of the mental illness brings about the closure of the gap of the
existent disparities and formulation of better policies to cater for the affected.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this research shows that media items portrayal of mental or psychological
health and illness among the Indigenous people in Australia are helpful because they have many
positives than negatives. It also shows that measures such as Mindframe Resource are very
influential when reporting the news. Although the process seems to close the gap and taking the
positives in regard to mental health there is a significant developmental impact. Some items
show negatives while its a wide range of others which portray mental health responsibly and
positively. The analysis of wellbeing portrayal shows that tabloid coverage among the
Indigenous people as commonly emphasized.
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Website Links
“https://theconversation.com/africa/topics/mental-health-343”
“https://theconversation.com/bad-news-negative-indigenous-health-coverage-reinforces-stigma-
24851”
“https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/The-portrayal-of-mental-health-in-Australian-daily-
Kenez-O%27halloran/8f21e819637f23523baffd0c6c92c2cafbc61368”
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