On Wednesday 26 July, BBC 1 broadcast an episode of Panorama titled ‘A Prescription for Murder?’. The show investigated the link between taking a common SSRI antidepressant and violent, homicidal behaviour. There have also been newspaper articles in the Sunday Times and the Daily Mail this week about the same issue.

While Time to Change welcomes investigations into prescription medication for mental health problems and their side effects we are concerned that this coverage could perpetuate unhelpful stereotypes about mental illness and violence.

Sue Baker OBE, Director of Time to Change said: "Media portrayals of mental health problems are very powerful in shaping attitudes and informing people. This is why it's so important to get it right by ensuring coverage is balanced and provides context. People with a mental illness are more likely to be a victim of violence than a perpetrator so we are concerned that the Panorama broadcast about medication causing homicidal behaviour feeds into outdated, negative stereotypes and fuels stigma.”