title: [Medial Stigmatization of Mentally Ill Persons after the "Germanwings"-Crash].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was designed to investigate the frequency of media stigmatization of mentally ill persons after the crash of the "Germanwings"-aircraft on March 2015.
  
  
  METHODS
  Evaluation of 251 texts, which were published in 12 national German newspapers. Categorical distinction between risky coverage and explicit characteristics of stigmatization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 64.1 % of the evaluated texts, a psychiatric disease of the co-pilot was discussed as the possible cause of the crash, making this the most widely-used explanation in the media that we view "risky coverage". Characteristics of explicit stigmatization were found in 31.5 % of the texts. Most prominent category of explicit stigmatization was the rubric "Metaphorical language/dramatizations". It was found in 23.5 % of the articles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Predominantly risky coverage of mentally ill persons has occured in the wake of a spectacular crime. By obtaining professional expertise of psychiatrists and consistent interpretation of journalistic guidelines, unintended effects of stigmatization could be avoided in the future.
authors: Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesundheit, Mannheim, Medizinische Fakultät Mannheim, Universität Heidelberg.
authors: Steffen Conrad
authors: SC
authors: von Heydendorff
authors: Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesundheit, Mannheim, Medizinische Fakultät Mannheim, Universität Heidelberg.
authors: Harald
authors: H
authors: Dreßing
mesh_terms: D000060:Accidents, Aviation / Q000523:psychology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D004190:Disasters; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D018156:Journalism, Medical; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D009524:Newspapers as Topic; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D000070356:Pilots / Q000523:psychology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D057545:Social Stigma; D013240:Stereotyping; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*