Mental Health News: How Frames Influence Support for Policy and Civic Engagement Intentions

Depression accounts for nearly 400 million disability days per year, and has been identified as the definitive public health priority in the decades to come (Greenberg et al., 2015). Despite the passage of the 2008 Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, which requires coverage of mental health services, behavioral health and substance-use disorders to be equal to physical health coverage, individuals face numerous barriers when seeking help for depression. This research tests whether changing the way stories frame depression affects how audience members attribute responsibility for depression and their intentions to participate in civic engagement activities supporting policy solutions. Findings from this study contradict earlier scholarship and have implications for how information about depression and policy solutions are framed for the public including how to develop health policy messaging when working with the news media. Suggestions for future research are included.