27 August 2002

Eastenders, Emmerdale, Brookside and The Bench short-listed for Mental Health Media Award!

The following programmes have cause to celebrate as they have been shortlisted for the soap and drama series category in the Mental Health Media Awards 2002.

The shortlisting panel were particularly impressed, not only by portrayals which powerfully challenged misconceptions around mental health, but also by storylines that highlighted social factors, such as abuse, poverty, bullying and stress, that can often trigger mental distress.

The shortlist is as follows:

• Eastenders (BBC Drama Series for BBC 1, Kat's suicide attempt)
• The Bench Series One, Episode 4 (BBC Wales for BBC One Wales)
• Brookside Bullying storyline (Mersey Television for Channel 4)
• Emmerdale Zoe Tate's schizophrenia (Yorkshire Television for ITV1)

The winning entry in this category will challenge misconceptions about mental distress, and portray the experience of distress in a realistic and informed way, within the context of likely situations and convincing acting.

The Soap and Drama Series category in Mental Health Media's Awards was introduced into this years' awards agenda, as Karen Mattison, Director of Mental Health explains: "Soaps have a powerful impact. They are watched by huge numbers of people and have the potential to influence attitudes, inform opinions and also raise awareness of specific issues. What's happening in a Soap can also be hot gossip, at work, at school or with friends and family. There are several mental health storylines in soaps at the moment. With this in mind, it's therefore crucial that positive and accurate portrayals of mental health in soaps are recognized and rewarded."

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 portrayals. 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.

Notes for Editors

1. For further details please contact Katie Brudenell or Kate Summerside on 020 7700 8171/8172

2. The Mental Health Media Awards will be presented at 6.30pm on Thursday 17th October 2002 at BAFTA, 195 Piccadilly, London, W1V 0LN

3. The 2002 Judges include:

Dorothy Byrne, Channel 4
Jane Drabble, OBE
Donna Franceschild, Writer
Roger Graef, Films of Record
Dr Vivien Lindow, Independent Researcher
Rufus May, Clinical Psychologist and Survivor
James McAteer, Media Trainer
Liz Main, Journalist and Survivor
Ian Mayes, The Guardian
Jenni Murray, Writer and Broadcaster
Dr Phil Thomas, Consultant Psychiatrist
Premila Trivedi, SIMBA (Share in Maudsley Black Action)

4. The Mental Health Media Awards, now in their 9th year recognise the best in reporting and portrayals of mental health issues.

5. Mental Health Media is a unique communications organisation which challenges discrimination around mental health by promoting the voice of mental health service users in all media.

6. Mental Health Media offers a range of video and new media training materials, provides media skills training courses, runs the annual Mental Health Media Awards and works with journalists and broadcasters to inform their coverage of mental health issues.

7. Mental Health Media can be contacted on 0207 700 8171.