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Mental health consequences of COVID-19 media coverage: the need for effective crisis communication practices.
- Source :
- Globalization & Health; 1/5/2021, Vol. 17 Issue 1, p1-8, 8p
- Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- During global pandemics, such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), crisis communication is indispensable in dispelling fears, uncertainty, and unifying individuals worldwide in a collective fight against health threats. Inadequate crisis communication can bring dire personal and economic consequences. Mounting research shows that seemingly endless newsfeeds related to COVID-19 infection and death rates could considerably increase the risk of mental health problems. Unfortunately, media reports that include infodemics regarding the influence of COVID-19 on mental health may be a source of the adverse psychological effects on individuals. Owing partially to insufficient crisis communication practices, media and news organizations across the globe have played minimal roles in battling COVID-19 infodemics. Common refrains include raging QAnon conspiracies, a false and misleading "Chinese virus" narrative, and the use of disinfectants to "cure" COVID-19. With the potential to deteriorate mental health, infodemics fueled by a kaleidoscopic range of misinformation can be dangerous. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of research on how to improve crisis communication across media and news organization channels. This paper identifies ways that legacy media reports on COVID-19 and how social media-based infodemics can result in mental health concerns. This paper discusses possible crisis communication solutions that media and news organizations can adopt to mitigate the negative influences of COVID-19 related news on mental health. Emphasizing the need for global media entities to forge a fact-based, person-centered, and collaborative response to COVID-19 reporting, this paper encourages media resources to focus on the core issue of how to slow or stop COVID-19 transmission effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- CRISIS communication
COVID-19
MENTAL health
CONSPIRACY theories
PANDEMICS
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 17448603
- Volume :
- 17
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Globalization & Health
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 147947855
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-020-00654-4