Public event on mental health and the media at the University of Leicester on Tuesday 21 November

Free public event at University of Leicester on 21 November

LEICESTER, 06-Nov-2017 — /EuropaWire/ — Mental health issues and their depiction on film and TV will be discussed at a public event at the University of Leicester on Tuesday 21 November.

It will question whether mental health and illness are depicted well on screen and – if not – what can be done about it.

Dr Marie Nugent, Public Engagement Manager for the College of Life Sciences, said: “This event is an exciting addition to our current Wellbeing Matters campaign which aims to promote and normalise open discussion about mental health.”

Mental health campaigner, Julian Harrison will be ‘in conversation’ with journalist John Coster, from the Documentary Media Centre in Leicester, and discussing ‘the Good, the Bad and the Ugly’ from television and film over the last 20 years.

Julian Harrison said: “This is a really important event. For many people the screen (whether film or television) is an entry into the world of mental illness, so it is vital that what we see accurately and fairly encapsulates the reality. In this event we ask the simple question: Does it? Our event promises not just to ‘lift the lid’ but to assess how we can all play a part to affect real change on our screens and elsewhere.”

The free event takes place from 6pm-8pm Lecture Theatre 2, George Davies Centre (formerly known as the Centre for Medicine), University of Leicester, Lancaster Rd, Leicester LE1 7HA.  Tuesday 21 November is also United Nations World Television Day.

The talk occurs during Documentary Media Month, and coincides with United Nations World Television Day which focuses on global citizens to observe stories of real people, places and events worldwide.

Mr Coster added: “In recognition of the increasing impact television has on decision-making by bringing world attention to conflicts and threats to peace and security and its potential role in sharpening the focus on other major issues… the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21 November as World Television Day (through resolution 51/205 of 17 December 1996).’ in an attempt to shed light onto, but not limited to Mental Health within the media.”

This free event is a function of the 8^th Leicester Doc Film Festival (1st-30th November) which covers four separate areas to illustrate documentary film, photography, audio and new media.

Hashtag: #docmedia2017 #WellbeingMatters

More information and free tickets: https://mental-health-in-the-media.eventbrite.co.uk

ENDS

SOURCE: University of Leicester

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