An innovative study of the media's portrayal of mental illness and the impact it has on the general public and attitudes and responses of carers and users of the mental health services. The Glasgow Media Group has been well known for the last twenty years for its ground breaking empirical research on the impact of the media in shaping public opinion. This book draws upon the Group's most recent research in conjunction with Scotland's Health Education Board to investigate the processes that condition media images; to examine factual and fictional presentation of mental illness in the media; public perception to certain illnesses, and to assess the impact of the media on the careers of those engaged in mental health services.