Talking about sensitive issues
I was advised by Rethink’s media team to always prepare for interviews by thinking specifically about what you do and do not wish to say and I have found this to be excellent advice –even writing it down in two lists can help. I always think it is quite OK to say outright that you don’t want to talk about a certain issue because it is ‘personal’ or ‘a family matter’ and in my experience they don’t really press you on this.
Emma Harding
Keep it "on the record"
Emma Harding says: “I would never say anything ‘off the record’ as even if they don’t use it you may wonder who else they told and where it went. If you do say something by accident, it is a good idea to immediately make it explicit that you don’t want it published / broadcast etc. If it is pre-recorded or a written piece.”
Talk to family and friends
"If the sensitive issue is an area that you do want to talk about it can be very powerful, so it is a good idea to make sure that the things you do say your family /friends are fully aware of. A close family member once said that he found me talking about a ‘difficult patch’ quite unsettling, which was hard for us both."
Get support
“I learned to let people near me know I was doing media work –they are often proud, keen to see the finished product and a good source of support. Don’t worry if you get upset if you are ‘going live’. A good journalist will want to ensure everybody looks / sounds good and will be very unlikely to embarrass you."
Stay focused
Helen Gilbert says: “It is easy when there is someone who is focused on everything you say to get a bit carried away and tell them your life story including a few details you’d rather others did not know. Mental illness is still treated with a significant amount of stigma and although you may feel confident telling a single journalist something, you may not want the whole world and your friends to know.”
Think Public
“Although the journalist will probably take you to a quiet discreet place to talk, try to picture doing the interview in a café full of people. Decide what you don’t mind them hearing and what you’d rather they didn’t hear.
Try not to labour a point too much. Like when a friend goes on a bit about something, it can make you look more unwell than you are. Make your point clearly and back it up with your experiences, then move on. In your opinion it may be a really important point but the journalist as a whole will probably make the decision on which points they want to illustrate depending on the direction of the piece.”
Many media volunteers want to see a final article before it's published - find out if this is possible!
