”Ensamhet är lika farligt som att röka” : En perspektivanalys av medias framställning av psykisk ohälsa bland äldre.

Sammanfattning: The purpose of this study was to investigate how the mental illness of the elderly was constructed in the newspapers Göteborgs-Posten and Sydsvenskan during the years 2016 to 2018. The study also examined the causes that are described as being behind the mental illness of the elderly and if mental illness of the elderly is described as a societal problem. The study has its roots in social constructivism, specified in perspective analysis and ageism. The collected data have been analyzed using the perspective analysis assay scheme and problem components such as cause, solutions and responsibility. The result shows that the media portrays the elderly as a homogeneous group where everyone in between 65-104 years old are included. A homogeneous group with the same needs and problems, which excludes those who do not define themselves as "elderly". Recurring was the media image of the elderly as "different", other adults, which warrant that the elderly are in need of another type of help/solution when they are mentally ill. Solutions from the society are mainly aimed at the elderly who already have help from the home service and therefore excluded other elderly who are outside.