The Guide - Mental Health

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The Mental Health Media Guide is a groundbreaking, comprehensive resource for content creators designed to help expand positive mental health portrayals. The best practices and evidence-based recommendations within this interactive tool can support storytellers at any phase in the production process, across topics and with an eye towards representing diverse communities.

The Media Guide was developed by a coalition of mental health experts, leaders from mental health organizations, and a broad range of creative, production and business professionals from media and entertainment companies. The coalition includes individuals who have deep knowledge about and/or lived experience with the full range of mental health challenges, as well as a diversity of life experience as informed by race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and religion.

We hope that the Media Guide not only provides tactical guidance but also elevates storytelling opportunities to empower the creative community to change the narrative on mental health.


The Mental Health Media Guide was co-authored by: Dr. Christine Yu Moutier, Dr. Stacy Smith, Dr. Jessi Gold, Dr. Michael A. Lindsey, Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, Courtney Knowles


Research and Sources

The following research and expert organizations informed some of the recommendations within the Media Guide: