Cartoons of mental illness after COVID-19. A decalogue of good practices for a non-stigmatising visual representation
- Meritxell Soria-Yenez Universidad de Lleida https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2913-7583
- Lucía Sapiña Universidad de Valencia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3420-2324
- Martí Domínguez Universidad de Valencia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7463-1695
Abstract
The mental health of the population has deteriorated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been shown that people with mental illnesses face discrimination and stigma. In this context, communication is an essential tool to make these illnesses more visible and, in particular, cartoons can play an important role. In this paper we analyze 317 cartoons dealing with mental health. We compared the cartoons published before and during the pandemic to see if there were any changes, if stigma was reduced and if journalistic good practice guidelines were applied to the cartoons. The data suggest that more attention has been paid to mental health issues during the pandemic, although many stereotypes and bad practices still dominate the cartoons. Furthermore, graphic humor proves its value as a tool for analyzing current affairs and can also be used to raise awareness of mental health issues.
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Author Biographies
Doctoranda del Programa de Doctorado en Salud de la Universidad de Lleida. Es responsable de comunicación del Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Lleida (IRBLleida).
Licenciada en Periodismo y Doctora en Estudios Históricos y Sociales sobre Ciencia, Medicina y Comunicación Científica. Licenciada en Periodismo, es profesora asociada de Periodismo en la Universidad de Valencia e investigadora del Observatorio de las Dos Culturas. Sus intereses de investigación se centran en la comunicación de la salud.
Doctor en Biología. Es profesor de Periodismo en el Departamento de Teoría del Lenguaje y Ciencias de la Comunicación de la Universidad de Valencia y director de Metode Science Studies Journal. También dirige el Observatorio de las Dos Culturas de la Universidad de Valencia. Su investigación se centra en el análisis de la ciencia en los géneros de opinión, especialmente en las viñetas que se publican en prensa.
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