Michael Birch

Dr. Michael Birch is a Professor in the Communications Department at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. His scholarship critically examines representations of mental health in media and their societal impact.

Research focuses on:

• Analysis of stigmatizing portrayals in news and entertainment media
• Development of alternative representations through participatory media
• Intersections of digital media, journalism, and mental health discourse
• Community-based approaches to mental health education

He is the author of Mediating Mental Health: Contexts, Debates and Analysis and serves as series editor for Language, Discourse and Mental Health by Exeter University Press. Dr. Birch engages in community mental health initiatives through the Images Cinema Board in Williamstown.