The role of media in raising societal awareness of mental health and psychological issues : A comparative study between Egyptian TV drama and Facebook content /

Abstract

Traditional media, especially television, has always had a significant influence on society. It can shape people's understanding, influence, and beliefs and even create awareness of important issues. Mental illness that allows an issue portrayed in various drama series, shedding light on individuals' struggles with mental disorders. With the rise of new media platforms like Facebook, the landscape of media representation is changing. This study aims to explore the role of both traditional and new media in creating societal awareness about mental health issues. By applying social identity theory, the researchers explore how portraying mentally disordered characters in TV dramas and new media practices contribute to understanding mental illness. Through a combination of surveys and content analysis, this research aims to shed light on the portrayal of mentally disordered characters depicted in media, particularly in TV drama, along with the new media practices towards creating awareness of mental illness. The study surveyed 400 people to test their understanding of specific mental disorders and their exposure to traditional and new media practices and analyzed nine drama series, three Facebook groups, pages, and campaigns. The study found a significant connection between how the public perceives mental disorders and where they obtain information about them. Exposure to Egyptian drama series was found to have a significant relationship with the public's identification of mental disorders. The study found that new media is more effective in creating awareness and reaching a higher level of understanding than television drama series. Keywords: mental health awareness, traditional media, new media, portrayal, drama series