The public image of psychiatrists

The image of psychiatry is directly related to the knowledge that the public has of psychiatry and to the psychiatrists role as a "public informer". The time has come for psychiatrists to organize and have their opinions on all aspects of the mental health care system and mental illness heard in the media. After a review of different causes of the negative public image of psychiatrists, the reasons for which psychiatrists need to change their public image are outlined with some suggestions for increase public recognition. The importance of developing more research on the effect of mass media on the mental health care system is also outlined.