2. Impact of media discourse on stigmatization of patients with depression and research on de stigmatization communication strategies

Abstract Background With the increase of the number of people facing mental health crisis, there is a contradiction between high incidence rate and low awareness of mental diseases. Depression, as a common mental health issue, is often constructed as a stigmatized symbol of online violence. Patients with depression are considered a group in online media who lack normal thinking ability and have difficulty controlling their behavior. The stigmatization of depression in media discourse leads to patients' disease shame and cognitive errors, thereby creating obstacles to their intervention and treatment. Therefore, this study analyzes the public's perception of depression under media discourse and explores effective strategies for de stigmatization communication. The purpose of the study is to reduce the bias and discrimination of depression patients by online media. Methods The study used a questionnaire survey to examine the public's cognitive attitudes, behaviors, and media exposure habits towards depression, in order to analyze the impact of media on the stigmatization of depression. Design a questionnaire based on literature review, which includes a depression cognitive level questionnaire and a depression attitude questionnaire. Both questionnaires used the Likert five point rating system, with higher scores on the cognitive level questionnaire indicating a greater understanding of the symptoms and causes of depression; The higher the score on the Depression Attitude Questionnaire, the lower the stigmatization of depression. After completing the questionnaire, SPSS 26.0 was used for data organization and factor analysis. Results The experimental results showed that 9% of the respondents in the cognitive level questionnaire lacked understanding of the manifestations, causes, treatment, and prevention of depression; 19% of the survey respondents have no understanding of the treatment methods for depression. At the same time, in the depression attitude questionnaire, 41% of people to some extent agree that "depression patients have narrow mindedness," "need education" or "inner darkness should be avoided." Experiments have shown that stigmatization of depression patients is relatively common in media discourse. The factor analysis results showed that age (β = 0.348, p<.001), education level (β = 0.078, p=.006), and medical history (β = 0.077, p=.005) among the survey subjects significantly positively predicted the results of the depression attitude questionnaire. The experimental results showed that the higher the education level, the older the age, and the survey subjects with relevant medical history, the lower the stigma perception of depression patients. Meanwhile, Discussion The research results show that the stigmatization of depression patients is common in current online media, and the medical history, age, and education level of the survey subjects can positively predict the results of the depression attitude questionnaire. Therefore, research suggests that in the spread of depression, the media needs to adopt a more responsible and sensitive attitude, and promote effective de stigmatization communication strategies. The media can start with public education and social media activities to systematically spread the causes, treatment methods, and precautions of mental illnesses such as depression. Invite experts in the field of mental illness to conduct case analysis and popular science in the program, in order to enhance public awareness of diseases. In future research, the scope of investigation will be expanded to analyze the social cognition and intervention strategies of other mental illnesses in media discourse.