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At the end of November 2006 the Press Complaints Commission published a revised Guidance Note to Editors on the reporting of mental health issues. To see the note click here

The new Note reminds Editors of the importance of terminology in reporting, pointing out that people are detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 in “hospitals” not “prisons”, and are “patients” not “prisoners”. Furthermore, the terms “jail”, “cell” and “cage” are inaccurate under the terms of the Act when referring to the accommodation of patients.
Editors are also reminded that epithets such as “nutter” and “schizo” may raise a breach of Clause 12 (Discrimination) of the Code of Practice in discriminating against individuals who are mentally ill, or Clause 1 (Accuracy), and points out such language can result in both distress to patients as well as contributing to a climate of public fear or rejection.
The Note follows consultation with organisations specialising in mental health, including Mind, Rethink, Sane, SeeMe and Shift and the revised Note now includes their contact details. The PCC itself looked at the reporting of mental health at the request of th0e Charter Compliance Panel, an independent audit committee tasked with overseeing the work of the PCC. Further details of this informal assessment are available upon request.

For further information, please contact Will Gore on 020 7831 0022 or will.gore@pcc.org.uk.

Zeroth. The revised Note replaces the PCC’s previous Guidance Note on this subject, ‘Patients detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act 1983’ which was produced in 1997.

Zeroth. The PCC also publishes guidance notes for editors on a range of other issues such as refugees and asylum seekers, harassment and court reporting. Full details are available at http://www.pcc.org.uk/advice/editorials.html?

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