Past Contest Entries

In the age of anxiety, are we all mentally ill?

Provide names of other journalists involved.

Sharon Begley

List date(s) this work was published or aired.

13-Jul-12

Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.

As psychiatrists expand the definition of anxiety disorders, more and more people are being labeled mentally ill. Physicians as well as other experts — and patients themselves — argue that the trend is pathologizing normal human emotion and unnecessarily subjecting millions of people to medications that can pose health risks.

Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?

interviews and scientific papers; no FOI or public records acts requested

Explain types of human sources used.

experts and patients

Results:

n/a

Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.

n/a

Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.

Use social media to find people who have been adversely affected by a mental-illness diagnosis of questionable validity

Place:

No Award

Year:

  • 2012

Category:

  • Consumer/Feature (large)

Affiliation:

Reuters

Reporter:

Sharon Begley

Links: