MIC Psychology student wins Graduate Award for research on perceptions of mental ill-health among offenders

Alan’s research, which was supervised by Dr Marc Scully of the Department of Psychology at MIC, sought to investigate whether changing media portrayals of mental ill health in a criminal justice context, can lead to increased empathy and a focus on recovery in public attitudes. It builds on previous social scientific research that has found that public attitudes and stigma towards mental ill health are framed by the mainstream news media (Corrigan et al, 2013). This is an issue in Ireland, where, despite some improvements in media discussion of mental health, severe mental ill health continues to consistently be linked with crime and danger (Gallagher et al., 2023). It has been suggested (McGinty et al, 2015) that a focus on recovery, and the use of person-centered, appropriately sensitive reporting can reduce public stigma: Alan sought to test this in an Irish context.

163 Irish adults took part in Alan’s research, which used an experimental vignette design: they were each asked to read one of three newspaper articles, describing the same public order incident where an individual experiencing mental ill health was apprehended by the Gardaí. The first used a sensationalist frame, headlined “Public Order Offences Involving the Mentally Ill at an All Time High”. The second used a recovery-focused frame, headlined “Early Intervention and Community Compassion Central to Positive Mental Health Recovery”. The third used a neutral frame, headlined “Minor Public Order Incident in Drumcondra”. Participants then completed a series of questionnaires intended to measure their attitudes towards the individual, as well as leaving comments on the story. 

Significant differences were found between the participants’ responses, with large effect sizes. The results demonstrated that those who had read the sensationalist article endorsed attitudes indicating greater fear and less acceptance of the individual, as well as greater pessimism regarding potential for recovery. Those who had read the recovery-focused article reported greater empathy towards the individual and more optimism regarding recovery.

Alan’s findings are in keeping with prior research in international contexts (e.g. Olafsdottir et al., 2026) and provide important insights on the potential of recovery-focused reporting in reducing stigma and fostering supportive public attitudes towards the population of people experiencing mental ill health. It can make an important contribution to the ongoing development of best practice policies in reporting on mental ill health in an Irish context.

Prof Niamh Stack, Head of the Department of Psychology said ““We are delighted to see our very first cohort of BSc Psychology students graduating this year and to see so many of them achieving success in progressing to postgraduate work and in winning awards for their undergraduate research as in Alan’s case here.  Alan’s chosen research focus very much reflects both the College, the Psychology Department’s and the BSc programme’s emphasis on and commitment to Social Justice and commitment to psychological research that can hopefully impact positive change in society.  Alan has made a valuable contribution to our psychology community in his time at MIC not just in academic terms but in receiving previous awards for his volunteering work and in working with our Academic Development Unit.  We look forward with interest and pride in Alan’s future career progression”.

Alan has previously presented his research at MIC’s annual Psychfest colloquium, and the 2026 PSI All-Ireland Psychology Student Congress at the University of Limerick. He is now studying the MSc in Applied Behaviour Analysis at the University of Galway and will return to MIC in October as part of the first graduating class from the BSc in Psychology.