First, it is not "ableist" to point out that an accuser's mental health will be examined by the media. That's just the reality. This is one among many reasons why it is incumbent upon journalists to ensure a story will hold up to scrutiny by actually investigating it 
This does not mean that journalists shouldn’t publish allegations from people who have a history of mental health problems. This history should have no bearing on their decision to publish. That said, journalists have a duty to minimize harm to their subjects.
In the case of sexual assault, harm minimization means that journalists should recognize that the mental health of their subject will be under public/media scrutiny & they therefore have a strong obligation to ensure they thoroughly vet the allegation.
The story doesn’t have to be proven. Few allegations are. But the better the underlying investigation, the more protected the subject will be. If the story holds up, that can combat negative narratives about mental health. If the story falls apart, that will augment attacks.
So, yes, journalists have a duty to vet stories privately in order to protect their sources. No matter how you feel about Reade, the fact that some “journalists” didn’t vet her story before publication meant that all vetting occurred publicly. This means harm was not minimized.
Finally, the Blasey Ford case is an example of good journalism, at least in some cases. The WAPO sat on the story for months, due to Blasey Ford’s reticence. They didn’t pressure her. They vetted the story, such that they knew it wouldn’t fall apart under the slightest scrutiny
The WAPO only published after an Intercept reporter published a process story, rather than an investigation of the allegation. Ford, fearing her identity would be leaked, went to the WAPO to ensure her story was told thru her own voice. By that point, the WAPO had vetted it well
On a personal note, I do not relish talking about the Reade story. I only do so if there's new information. It's important for us to understand what happened. Sexual assault reporting has been revolutionized in the past few years. Sloppy "journalism" can harm that progress.
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