NIMH Media Unit

To set up a sustainable, effective communication and Media Coordination Unit at NIMH that reaches all of its intended audiences and meets its targeted objectives across the country. The NIMH media unit acts at a national level and will work towards promoting mental health issues that impact all of Sri Lanka.

1. Reduce stigma surrounding mental illness and promote overall mental wellbeing. 2. Setting norms and standards for mental health reporting in Sri Lanka. 3. Monitor mental health articles/documentaries/dramas movies/news items in all three languages that appear in the Sri Lankan media and respond appropriately to any unethical forms of reporting. 4. Educate and provide necessary skills/ guidance to the media about reporting mental health issues through sensitization sessions. 5. Educate and develop the skills of mental health professionals about the media and the role they play in stigma reduction and mental health promotion through presentations as part of regular trainings offered at NIMH. 6. Promote positive activities and success stories coming from the NIMH, including promotion of both locations at Angoda and Mulleriyawa, as well as activities at mental health facilities across the country. 7. Proactively promote the key messages of this strategy to all of our identified audiences.

1. Mental health affects everyone. Mental health is all about how each one of us functions in our dayto-day lives. 2. Anyone can get a mental illness, no matter their gender, education level or economic status. 3. People who have experienced mental illness can recover completely or control it with proper medication. They can also contribute to society and live normal lives. 4. If you are experiencing mental health problems, there are people who can help. 5. Everyone has a role to play to end discrimination.

1. The National Institute of Mental Health is focused on the overall mental health of Sri Lankans. 2. The institute plays an integral role in Sri Lanka by providing specialized psychiatric services to individuals and the community with professionalism and care, and is the centre for mental health training, promotion and research in the country.

Media - The media will be the primary audience for this strategy. They offer a powerful platform and play a vital role in creating awareness and providing information about the reality of mental health issues.

Community groups and individuals - By specifically targeting community members, we can raise awareness about mental health issues directly to the people who need to be educated.

Employees - It‘s been noted that employees often aren‘t aware of what‘s happening at the institute in other areas. This plan will address that issue and get news out to staff in a visible way. The plan will also aim to show the importance of all roles in the hospital - from support staff to director. Every employee plays an important role in delivering exceptional patient care.

Patients - In many ways the patients‘ stories are the most effective way to reduce stigma and deliver on the goals set out in this plan. As well, for patients to have their success stories told could be extremely beneficial as it concretely shows that recovery is possible. Consent forms will need to be signed before using any patient stories or photos.

Language - Due to the often quick turnaround times of media/communication work, it will be imperative to have a Sinhalese, Tamil and English speaking and writing resource persons to help deliver this strategy.

Budget - The size and distribution of the newsletter and other tactics will depend on cost and available budget.

Lack of research - Statistics regarding many mental health issues as well as research regarding stigma are not readily available in Sri Lanka. This makes it difficult to confidently identify key messages and communication channels.

Media monitoring – Coordinate with the Health Informatics Section and monitor the media daily in all three languages and post relevant mental health articles on the NlMH website.

Media response - Draft and send letters to the editor on behalf of the NlMH media unit in response to any unethical reports regarding mental health. Media training on mental health - Plan and deliver sensitization sessions for journalists across the country on the topic of mental health reporting using the resources already produced. Mental health professional media training - Plan and deliver media awareness training for all mental health professionals as part of regularly scheduled training at NlMH.

NlMH website – Coordinate with the Health Informatics Section of the PDU and periodically revise the website with new information regarding mental health in Sri Lanka and the various events that are occurring. Also, build a regular schedule to update content on the site in a timely fashion. NIMH Facebook and Instagram Page - Coordinate with the Health Informatics Section of the PDU and periodically regularly update and maintain the NIMH Official Facebook and Instagram Page. NIMH newsletter/Mental Health Magazine – With the Coordination of all PDU Sections biannual or quarterly newsletter to be published that will highlight events/projects happening in the mental health field in Sri Lanka as well as NIMH Promotion of designated days - To raise awareness about mental health issues - the NIMH media unit will issue news releases or provide support to Mental Health Directorate and the Health Education Bureau on specially designated days related to mental health. 1. World Health Day – April 7th 2. World No Tobacco Day – May 31st 3. International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking – June 26th 4. World Suicide Prevention Day - September 10th 5. International Day of Older Persons and Children- October 1st 6. World No Alcohol Day – October 2nd 7. World Mental Health Day - October 10th 8. International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women - November 25th 9. Special media advisories - News releases - Media advisories and news releases will also be issued by the NIMH for other newsworthy and time sensitive events not suitable for the newsletter.

This strategy will be measured by determining how many tactics listed above are introduced and sustained.

1. The Media Coordination Unit will function in line the Vision, Mission, Goals, Values and Objectives of NIMH 2. The Unit administration will be under the Director and the Media Unit Steering Committee. 3. The Media Unit Steering Committee will be appointed by the Director – NIMH. 4. The Steering Committee will consist of the following

a. Director – NIMH b. Deputy Director – NIMH c. Consultant Psychiatrist – 02 d. Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist e. Medical Officer – In Charge – Media Unit f. Medical Officer – Psychiatry – Navodaya Day Centre g. Medical Officer – Public Health h. Medical Officer – Disaster Management i. Special Grade Nursing Officer – 02 j. Chief Psychiatric Social Worker k. Chief Occupational Therapist

5. The Steering Committee will guide the Media Unit Working Group with direction and guidance.

a. Medical Officer – IC b. Nursing Officer – QM c. Nursing Officer – Health Promotion d. Community Psychiatric Nurse – 01 e. Occupational Therapist – 02 f. Other Category – 01 g. SKS – 05 to 06

7. The Media Unit will only have very limited staff and will function with staff who are covering up while in other permanent duties.

8. The Media Unit will look into the following functions.

a. Coordination with Digital, Social and Print Media about promotion of Mental Health and NIMH

Services b. Mental Health Promotion c. General Health Promotion in collaboration with Health Promotion Unit d. Maintenance of Facebook, Instagram pages and Website in collaboration with Health

Informatics Section of PDU e. Develop of Print and digital media for NIMH f. Media Coverage of activities held at NIMH as well as those hosted or co-hosted by NIMH outside NIMH

g. Coordinating media and filming activities within NIMH by external parties for which the

Director has given permission. (This parties will have to abide the rules and regulations developed by the Media Unit)