Mental Health Media Awards 2003
Seeking the Best in Media Coverage

29th May 2003

Nominations for outstanding media coverage of mental health - programmes that inspire and affect positive change - are being sought by Mental Health Media for this year's annual Awards.

Mental Health Media's Awards recognize the role of the media in promoting greater understanding and awareness of mental health issues - in both factual reporting and fictional representations.

Last year's winners of Mental Health Media Awards include BBC 1's 'Eastenders', which won the Soap and Drama Series award for its portrayal of character Kat Slater's sexual abuse storyline and subsequent suicide attempt, BBC Radio 4's PM won the TV and Radio News for its 'Mental Health Report', and Stella Maris Films for Scottish TV/Grampian TV won the Single Drama & Drama Serial award for 'New Found Land: Leonard' starring Denis Lawson.

Although one in four of us will experience mental health problems, the reality of these experiences is often misrepresented and misunderstood, perpetuating silence, taboos and discrimination.

To nominate a programme online, please visit www.mhmedia.com, For a nomination form please call 020 7700 8171 or email awards@mhmedia.com. Entry deadline: 1st July 2003.

Notes for Editors

1. For further details please contact Kate Summerside or Katie Brudenell on 020 7700 8171
   
2. The Mental Health Media Awards will be presented at 6.30pm on Tuesday 7th October 2003 at BAFTA, 195 Piccadilly, London, W1V 0LN
   
3. The 2003 Judges include:
   Roger Graef, Films of Record
   Jenni Murray, Writer and Broadcaster
   Jane Drabble, OBE
   Liz Main, Survivor
   Premila Trivedi, Survivor
   James McAteer, Media Action Group for Mental Health
   Caroline Raphael, Commissioning Editor Drama & Entertainment, BBC Radio 4
   
4. The Mental Health Media Awards, now in their 10th year were established to promote high quality broadcasting about mental health and distress.
   
5. Mental Health Media is a voluntary organisation, which works with the media to promote people's voices in order to reduce the discrimination and prejudice surrounding mental health and learning difficulties.