Abstract
The current knowledge of the media influence research confirms that the way reality presented in the media has an impact on the attitudes, knowledge and behaviour of the public. This was confirmed also for the presentation of the mental disorders.
The way media provide information about this subject does not comply with real life. Moreover it is presented in a negative way which leads to the stigmatization od people with mental disorders.
All this leads to negative consequences in life of these people and in the attitudes of the public, particularly in some decisions in social policy and legislation. On the other hand media can play an important role in the process of decreasing the stigma, in providing information about this topic in adequate ways.This article presents a brief summary of the most important psychosocial theories about media influence on public opinion, research that has been done in this field regarding the portrayal of psychiatry in media, suggestion for improvement of this situation