head clutcher

Stock images trotted out by busy picture editors to illustrate pieces with a mental health angle, consisting of a person in lonely isolation typically with their head in their hands.

Such images reinforce a stereotypical view of how people living with mental ill-health should appear at all times (and if we don't, we must be fakers and shirkers) and that we are sad, hopeless cases beyond help.

"BBC News - #Mentalhealth and the death of the '#headclutcher' picture"

"Would be great if Morning Star could avoid using #headclutcher photos tho!!"

"Great article. Shame about the head clutcher cliche image"

"Love this. Quick voxpop of room and people agree that stigmatising images of young people clutching their head or disheveled should not be posted online and included in new chatsafe guidelines"

"#headclutcher alert"

"There she is! It's the original #headclutcher woman, dedged up by @BBCNewsNI from the depths of ancient Press Association stock pics! Bless. Psst, you might wanna take a look at free online #mentalhealth picture library, #GetThePicture from @TimetoChange for something a bit more up to date!"

head clutcher by @Sectioned_ November 11, 2018