Policing, Mental Illness and Media

What is it about?

Part of the 'Palgrave Studies in Crime, Media and Culture' series, this book delves into the complexities of the relationship between policing and mental health, including the circumstances that lead to police use of force and the ways in which news media typically report deaths resulting from police contact with people in mental health crisis.

Featured Image

Photo by Josh Couch on Unsplash

Photo by Josh Couch on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The book draws together close to 20 years of research, including interviews, fieldwork and extensive case study analysis, to explore the conditions for the production of news media coverage about fatal police encounters with people with mental illness, the ways in which this media coverage can shape public perceptions of police-involved mental health crisis interventions, and the potential impacts on those involved in and affected by such events. It offers a timely contribution in the context of ongoing debates about police violence and proposed mental health reforms. "The publication of Policing, Mental Illness and Media is timely. ... Nearly every chapter presents interviews, case studies and copious references for further investigation." (Trevor Cullen, Australian Journalism Review, Vol. 43 (2), 2021)