Last week many people read my article Disallowing Depression Misconceptions containing critical remarks about a piece in West Virginia University’s school paper, The Daily Athenaeum. The piece was entitled Depression can be treated through lifestyle changes and suggested, among other inaccuracies, that all people needed to help depression was, “a walk in the park.”
I found Depression can be treated through lifestyle changes to be stigmatizing and just plain inaccurate and I said so both here at the Bipolar Burble and in the comments on The Daily Athenaeum’s website as well. I’m pleased to say many of my readers also stopped by to express rather notable disapproval of the article.
The Daily Athenaeum’s Response to Criticism
And so what did The Daily Athenaeum do?
They removed all comments from the piece and disallowed new ones.
What a disappointing reaction. Instead of admitting to a mistake, instead of printing a clarification or reaction, instead of responding to all the concerns, the newspaper did the most dishonest thing I can think of doing – they covered it up.
This is unacceptable.
How dare a newspaper conceal legitimate concerns and silence criticism? That is the very antithesis of journalistic ethics. I don’t know what this newspaper thinks it’s teaching its staff, but it certainly isn’t how to be a good reporter or writer.
I will be writing The Daily Athenaeum a letter detailing why I feel this is unacceptable and I encourage others to do the same. We, the mental illness community cannot let stigma-spreading inaccuracies to be swept under the rug. We cannot allow our voices to be silenced.
Is a Newspaper Article on Depression in Some University Newspaper a Little Thing?
Maybe. But it’s the principle. This newspaper doesn’t have the right to silence feedback just because they don’t like what we have to say. We have voices. And we will keep exercising them.
Contact the Daily Athenaeum
For anyone who would like to contact the Opinion columns editor you can email DAPerspectives@mail.wvu.edu or call (304) 293-5092 ex 4.
The Daily Athenaeum is also on Twitter and on Facebook.
For anyone who may be interested, here is a list of every email address they have on their website, I sent my email to all of them:
DAnewsroom@mail.wvu.edu; DAPerspectives@mail.wvu.edu; DASports@mail.wvu.edu; DAA&E@mail.wvu.edu; Erin.Fitzwilliams@mail.wvu.edu; John.Terry@mail.wvu.edu; Alex.Koscevic@mail.wvu.edu; Mackenzie.Mays@mail.wvu.edu; Lydia.Nuzum@mail.wvu.edu; James.Carvelli@mail.wvu.edu; Ben.Gaughan@mail.wvu.edu; Berry@mail.wvu.edu; Jeremiah.Yates@mail.wvu.edu; Jakob.Potts@mail.wvu.edu; Charles.Young@mail.wvu.edu; DACalendar@mail.wvu.edu; Matthew.Sunday@mail.wvu.edu; DA-Editor@mail.wvu.edu; BoFisher@mail.wvu.edu; Kyle.Hess@mail.wvu.edu; Alan.Waters@mail.wvu.edu; Pam.Dodson@mail.wvu.edu; chris.mcelroy@mail.wvu.edu; Jami.Christopher@mail.wvu.edu; roy.batesr@mail.wvu.edu; danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
See the letters I have written to the West Virginia University here. Feel free to copy and paste and send them yourself. We have power in numbers.
As a Side Note
an institution for the promotion of literary or scientific learning.
Apparently their name is to be taken with a grain of salt.
Update
The Daily Athenaeum has bowed to pressure and reinstated comments on their article. I will continue to push to have them address our concerns.
Thanks for bringing this to the light, Tracy.
I’ve just sent this note on behalf of the Mood Disorders Association of Ontario:
This is in response to a story your newspaper ran claiming that simple lifestyle changes (like a walk in the park) can successfully treat depression. The article also suggested that people who are taking prescribed medication to treat their depression are somehow responsible for prescription drug abuse in the States.
Would your newspaper print such an article if you replaced the word ‘depression’ with ‘breast cancer’? Seems ludicrous to suggest that a walk in the park is all that’s needed to treat breast cancer, or that women taking prescribed chemotherapy drugs are the cause of prescription drug abuse.
Here are the facts (supported by psychiatrists, mental health experts and tones of peer-reviewed research): lifestyle changes, such as healthy eating and exercise, can support the recovery of many people who are living with depression. No surprise, like all chronic illnesses, the symptoms of depression vary depending on the individual. Successful treatment also varies considerably from person to person. People living with depression who are taking prescribed antidepressants are doing so to treat a medical condition, just like women who take chemotherapy drugs to treat their breast cancer.
What’s most shameful about your article is that it perpetuates stigma surrounding mental illness to a readership that is already prone to not receiving support for early signs and symptoms of mental health conditions because of the shame or embarrassment they feel. 70% of people living with depression as an adult had the first signs and symptoms in their youth. Studies show that the earlier people get treatment and support for depression and other mental illnesses, the more successful their long-term recovery.
Time to do the right thing: own up to the factual mistakes in your article, print a retraction and print comments from people who are living with depression.
Jennifer,
I really appreciate your support in this. Your letter is incredible. It’s great to have an organization back what you’re saying and I’m honoured you would step up with me.
Thank-you.
(By the way, it’s Natasha.)
– Natasha Tracy
I’m pleased to say The Daily Athenaeum has reinstated comments on their poor article but has not responded to my emails nor formally made a clarification. I will keep pressuring them to do so.
Thanks everyone for all your help. Keep it up!
– Natasha Tracy
Just sent this off to the opinion columns editor:
Opinion Columns Editor:
The article you recently published on depression was brought to my attention through a blog written by a fellow sufferer of mental illness. I have Bi-Polar I Disorder and have frequent bouts of depression. A walk in the park will not help me when the gloom descends and sends me to my bed to huddle under the covers in my misery. I take five different medications on a daily basis to try and keep myself on an even keel. Recently I was hospitalized for a week when even that barrage of pharmaceuticals wasn’t enough to keep the depression at bay. Every day I fight to have a normal life. Every. Day. True mental illness isn’t something that can be “cured” only treated.
The crux of my problem with your article is this, when criticism about your article was voiced -you chose to silence it. It seems to me a university paper, if anything should be open to criticism and discussion, comments by readers discussed, not deleted. A journalist with any integrity would have invited and given space to a different viewpoint…not silenced it. There is enough stigma that goes with mental illness and those of us who struggle with it look to share our fight not hide it. The best way to help the mentally ill is to validate their struggle not disregard it.
I hope you will take my words for what they are, heartfelt. Depression isn’t something I can wish away at will -I wish I could. I hope you will consider writing another article, this time with input from people that struggle with depression so that their voices can be heard.
Sincerely,
MaryAnn Bova
Hi MaryAnn,
Thanks for posting your letter. Let me know if you get a response. One of my readers did get a response although I have not received one.
– Natasha Tracy
As an editor at a university paper who’s had to listen to a bunch of newbie feminists scream at us online this past week (unwarranted, long story – there were personal dramas mixed in to wildly overinflate a legitimate, if very minor, concern), they really need to toughen up if they want to make it in this business. Taking the comments down speaks very poorly for their future careers as ‘journalists’. The proper response would be to own up to a horrifically researched article (at least it’s set as Opinions? cold comfort) and publish the responses in print, furthering debate and an actual discussion of the issue. It would make a great feature, even without printing/responding to comments. For them to attempt to silence you completely is ridiculously short-sighted and poor journalistic practise.
To be fair, I’m sure there’s a lot going on behind the scenes that we’re not privy to as you haven’t received a formal response. (Have you? Any informal responses?) I’d like to hear their side of the story, personally, to try to understand who made such a pigheaded decision to take down the comments.
Penny,
No kidding! The totally need to toughen up. I was incredibly kind compared to some of the comments people (myself included) receive on their writing.
I keep wanting to put “journalists” and “newspaper” in quotes because they seem to have proven that they are neither, but I’m trying to fight the urge.
Yeah, the fact that it’s in Opinion doesn’t really make me feel any better. There’s a big difference between, “I think depression can be treated by walking” and “Depression can be treated with a walk in the park.” One is an opinion, one isn’t. And this writer did not state her thoughts as opinions at all.
“The proper response would be to own up to a horrifically researched article (at least it’s set as Opinions? cold comfort) and publish the responses in print, furthering debate and an actual discussion of the issue.”
I agree completely and I don’t understand why they’re not doing this. It seems so obvious.
“For them to attempt to silence you completely is ridiculously short-sighted and poor journalistic practise.”
I totally agree.
“To be fair, I’m sure there’s a lot going on behind the scenes that we’re not privy to as you haven’t received a formal response.”
I haven’t received any response and if I don’t receive one by tomorrow I’ll be emailing everyone in their psychology department as well as their newspaper people again. It’s not “nice” but if that’s what I have to do to get some movement, then I’ll do it.
I agree, there must be things going on behind the scenes, but I don’t care about that. I care about what I, and everyone else, can see. Because that’s what affects us.
“I’d like to hear their side of the story, personally, to try to understand who made such a pigheaded decision to take down the comments.”
Me too. I feel like we’re not going to see it though.
Thanks for your comments.
– Natasha Tracy
I posted a huge angry comment myself, and am very disappointed that the newspaper didn’t just apologize, or at least respond in any way. I hope they do now, because writing an article full of misconceptions, okay (well, not really but you know what I mean), but to hide it away when that gets pointed out is plainly ridiculous.
As a side note, I do think it’s very lovely of you that you have sent them a letter. What they’re doing now is just unprofessional, even if it is just some school’s newspaper and I think you deserve a thumbs-up for being so agressive (not exactly the right word but whatever) about it.
Hi Charissa,
Plainly ridiculous is right.
Yes, I’d say I’m being assertive ;)
I just feel someone should represent us. We have a valid point and I want it heard. If they don’t reply by tomorrow, I’ll send another letter. A woman on Facebook has given me some additional ideas as to what to say.
– Natasha Tracy
Wow, so a University newspaper which will speak to a wealth of growing, learning, minds has not only published an article of pure nonsense, but silenced reasonable replies? I do believe I’ll add my voice via a letter. This attitude is just part of the reason that so many of “us” have felt like we needed to silence ourselves and live with this burden, lest we be seen as people who ought to just shut up and take a walk!
Hi Sara,
Well said. I would certainly appreciate it if you sent a letter.The more voices on this thing the better.
– Natasha Tracy
This is so unconscionable I find it unbelievable. Not only do they mischaracterize depression, but they can’t take a little criticism. I will definitely put out the word on this and send some emails. Thanks for the update, at least you should feel honored that you’re powerful enough to be censored.
Hi James,
I was fully prepared to let the matter drop until they erased all the comments. That ticked me right off. I agree, it’s almost unbelievable. Some little university student can’t take criticism they shouldn’t be on the internet (or, you know, shouldn’t write crap).
I appreciate your support.
I’m not sure what getting censured means, but yes, there’s probably some power there. Thanks.
– Natasha Tracy
Hey Natasha- I think your blogging friends should mirror this. I think who ever wrote the original piece is wrong. I think what they might have been trying to say, is when you are depressed you don’t want to move. So move with little steps. Or get a friend to walk with you.
The problem is Depression kills. Advice like this in the piece and “snap out of it”, don’t help.
I wonder if the person who wrote the piece is a psych major.
Anon,
What they may have been _trying_ to say might have been reasonable, but it isn’t what they _did_ say and someone has to take responsibility for that.
I sure the heck hope they aren’t a psych major otherwise that whole school has problems.
– Natasha Tracy
I am still bugged about this. Why are they afraid to debate this point. I find it baffling. I will write more letters too. I like taking a top down approach. Is there another paper at this school or a psychology department that might have something to add? More research.
Myth busting is critical, activism is so crucial to bust ridiculous stereotypes.
I found their psychology department, if you’re interested – there are lots of contact there.
http://psychology.wvu.edu/faculty_staff
– Natasha Tracy
this is their response,”Thank you for your questions, comments and feedback to The Daily Athenaeum’s Opinion section.
Due to the volume of submitted materials, we cannot guarantee we will be able to reply to each message, though we do try.
If you have questions or comments for any other sections or editors, please visit our Web site at http://www.da.wvu.edu for e-mail addresses for each section and editor.
Thanks,
DA Opinions”
so I wrote the school President here is the content, lets see what he says.
Dear Dr. Clements,
I am writinng in regards to an article posted in the Daily Athenaeum entitled, “Depression can be treated through lifestyle changes” by Danielle Faipler.
A number of comments were posted by people in the mental heath comunity pointing out falacious arguments presented in the article and each and everyone was deleted.
This is of enormous concern to me personally. None of the comments were addressed they were just summarily deleted.
My belief is that schools of higher learning should encourage free thought and critical thinking.I would hope that you would examine this issue.
This article is starting to “burn up” the web. There has been a lot of debate about it and a letter writing campaign has started.
Regards Jacob “Jake” Thomas
I wrote them and I quote, “To whom it many concern,
A number of people in the mental health communtiy posted displeasure at this article. The response was to remove the posts. My Father was an editor at The Manchester Evening News and my Grandfather before him.
What happened to journalistic integrity? As an institution of higher learning you would expect that a free exchange of ideas would be encouraged not censored.
There were no personal attacks, but editors were obviously offended. This speaks to the sad state of our institutions of higher learning.
I hope your rectify this situation although I am not holding my breath.
regards Jacob Thomas”
no response yet, should we really expect one. it almost feels like spam time. lol
Jake,
Thank-you for taking the time to write them. I am working on a letter now. Please spread the word about this so we can get a few letters in and maybe force some kind of response.
– Natasha
Or contact the Director: Alan Waters (304) 293-4141 Alan.Waters@mail.wvu.edu
I’ve decided to copy every person on their contact page. Someone ought to read it.
– Natasha
Keep it going. I keep re-posting to other pages.
I’m getting a good response on Twitter. I’ll push it hard tomorrow too.
– Natasha