Covering Mental Health

Playing Mad Woman

Overview

Students explore how the press brings awareness to problems and helps support reform efforts through analysis of primary sources on the mental health reform movement of the mid-nineteenth century spearheaded by activist Dorothea Dix and journalist Nellie Bly. After, students create their own front-page news story about a mental health issue facing Americans today.

Related Resources

Grade

High School, Middle School

Subjects

Civics, English Language Arts, Social Studies

Length

200-240 minutes

Topics

Dorothea Dix, health, investigative reporting, journalism, mental health, mental health reform, Nellie Bly, press

Author

PBS NewsHour Extra

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