Background

Mindframe Stage and Screen is one of a suite of projects funded under the Australian Government’s Mindframe National Media Initiative with the aim of promoting accurate and sensitive reporting and portrayal of suicide and mental illness. The project is a partnership between the Hunter Institute of Mental Health, the Australian Writers’ Guild, SANE Australia and a group of nine Australian scriptwriters.

The Mindframe Stage and Screen website, based on the print resource Mental Illness and Suicide: A Mindframe resource for stage and screen, provides practical advice and information to support the work of scriptwriters and others involved in the development of Australian film, television and theatre. It is designed to help inform truthful and authentic portrayals of mental illness and suicide.

Film, television and theatre can exert a powerful influence on community attitudes towards mental illness and suicide. In March 2007, a workshop brought together Australian scriptwriters with people directly affected by mental illness and those working in mental health. This established the need for resources that would enhance the development of more truthful and authentic portrayals of mental health issues rather than portrayals that perpetuate current myths and stereotypes.

To view a pdf copy of the outcomes report from the planning workshop in March 2007, click here.

The resource booklet and this accompanying website provide information about audience impact and some key issues to consider when developing storylines that include either mental illness or suicide. The resource also provides some contextual information about these issues.

The print and web-based resources are designed to help scriptwriters to continue to include fresh and original portrayals of mental illness and suicide that are accurate and authentic. The resources will also ensure that:

When suicide is incorporated into a story on stage or screen, that it reinforces the attitude that there are alternatives to suicide and that help is available;
Depictions of mental illness are based on accurate information, challenge stereotypes and myths about mental illness and encourage people with mental health problems to seek help;
People involved in the development of film, television and theatre understand the impact of portraying suicide and mental illness on stage and screen, based on evidence from up-to-date research;
Research on suicide and mental illness and reliable sources of information are available to scriptwriters when preparing a piece; and
Appropriate contact details are provided for services to help people distressed or prompted to act by a fictional drama piece.

Project updates

More information about the Mindframe Stage and Screen project is available in the following downloadable documents.

Timeline of key activities: November 2006 - May 2010

Obtaining Resources

Copies of Mental Illness and Suicide: A Mindframe resource for stage and screen can be downloaded by clicking the image below:

538KB

Anyone involved in the development of Australian film, television or theatre can request free hard copies of the resource booklet by contacting:

Hunter Institute of Mental Health
Tel: 02 4924 6904
Fax: 02 4924 6909
Email: Mindframe@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au