Communicating and Reporting

Download Mindframe Media Guidelines

Eating disorders are often misunderstood and underestimated in our society, resulting in inaccurate reporting and language. In order to approach eating disorders correctly, appropriate messages should be combined with effective engagement strategies to help the media and various institutions and providers educate the community about eating disorders and work towards prevention and intervention.

In collaboration with Mindframe and Australian media professionals, the NEDC have developed a resource to provide practical advice for journalists, editors and other media professionals to guide best-practice reporting and portrayal of eating disorders. The Australian Government’s Mindframe National Media Initiative aims to encourage responsible, accurate and sensitive representation of mental illness and suicide in the Australian mass media. Mindframe provides access to up-to-date, evidence-based information to support the reporting, portrayal and communication about suicide and mental illness.

Although this resource is targeted at media professionals, key messages can help guide teachers, government representatives, non-government organisations and those in the education, health, sport, fitness, beauty and fashion industries to implement appropriate communication campaigns and programs using evidence-based guidelines.

For more information relating to mental illness, visit the Mindframe website.