Mind Media Awards 2011 winners announced
BBC Radio 4’s All in the Mind, X-Factor judge Tulisa and a Radio Five Live documentary into the suicide of German goalkeeper Robert Enke were among the winners at the Mind Media Awards 2011. The awards, announced at a ceremony hosted by The Thick of It star Rebecca Front at the British Film Institute, celebrate the best portrayals and reporting of mental health in the media.
BBC Radio 4’s All in the Mind received Mind’s prestigious Making a Difference award, given to those who set the agenda and initiate change. The programme, which explores ‘the limits and potential of the human mind’, was praised for its innovative and sensitive work on mental health problems over many years and the genuine impact this has made.
N-Dubz and X-Factor star Tulisa was awarded the Documentary award for her BBC3 programme Tulisa: My Mum and Me. This highly personal account shows Tulisa’s life away from the spotlight as a carer for her mother, who has schizoaffective disorder, lifting the lid on the lives of the 80,000 young people in Britain caring for a parent with mental health problems.
Fittingly, following the tragic death of Gary Speed this weekend, the award for best Speech radio went to BBC Radio 5 Live’s Sport Special ‘Robert Enke: A Life Too Short’. The documentary marks a year since German goalkeeper Robert Enke took his own life, an event which shocked the football world. BBC Radio 5 Live also scooped the News and Current Affairs award for Victoria Derbyshire’s compelling interview with a GP who was experiencing alcohol addiction problems.
Also commended was BBC 1’s Casualty, which beat off stiff competition from both its BBC1 hospital drama stablemate Holby City and psychological thriller Exile to be crowned the winner of the Drama award.
The Speaking Out award, which is presented to an individual with personal experience of mental distress, went to 18 year old Rebecca Brown, for her online video diary on her mental health problems. Rebecca used her ‘Beckie0’ vlog on YouTube to document her experiences of trichotillomania, an impulse control disorder that causes her to pull out her own hair.
Other winners on the night, selected by an independent judging panel of mental health experts and leading media figures, included Catherine Bennion-Pedley at Company magazine who took home the Journalist of the Year award and a prisoner at Wandsworth Prison who received the Chairman’s Special Award for demonstrating outstanding craft and technique in his Radio Wanno: Interview with Stephen Fry.
BBC Radio 4 All in the Mind presenter Claudia Hammond said:
"I'm delighted that All in the Mind received the Making A Difference Award. Mental health is an area that inspires huge amounts of debate and where people's voices still need to be heard more. We feel really proud to be putting the topic at the top of the agenda."
Tulisa said:
"Mental health issues are something that's very close to my heart. Winning a Mind Media Award means so much to me, I'm blown away. It's something that affects so many people and their families. I wanted 'My Mum and Me' to show that no one should be ashamed to speak out about mental health issues."
Rebecca Front said:
"It was a huge honour to host this year’s Mind Mental Health Media Awards. I feel proud to have been part of an event which commends people in the media for their positive contributions to mental health. The media is hugely influential in shaping people's opinions of mental health, for both good and ill, so it’s brilliant to be able to highlight how well it can be done."
Mind Chief Executive Paul Farmer said:
"This year’s Mind Media Awards winners illustrate the fantastic programmes that can be made when mental health issues are tackled sensitively. Whether it is someone talking about their life in a documentary, article or YouTube video, or helping to inform the plot of a drama, personal stories can shine a spotlight on what life is really like with a mental health problem."
The full list of winners at the Mind Media Awards 2011:
Documentary
Tulisa: My mum and me (BBC 3)
Singer Tulisa Contostavlos from the band N-Dubz, is also a carer for her mum who has schizoaffective disorder. In this personal, authored documentary, Tulisa finds out what life is like for some of the 80,000 other young people in Britain caring for a parent with mental health problems.
Drama
Casualty (BBC 1)
Emotional scenes as Dr Ruth Winters, played by actress Georgia Taylor, is sectioned by her colleagues. This episode shows Ruth struggling to accept her bipolar disorder diagnosis.
Mark Hanson New Media Award
Confessions of a serial insomniac
A young woman’s blog on therapy, complex post traumatic stress disorder, major depression and social anxiety with psychotic and dissociative features. A courageous and very personal account that pulls no punches.
News and Current Affairs sponsored by Samaritans
BBC Radio 5 Live Victoria Derbyshire: Alcoholic GP
Victoria Derbyshire interviews a GP with an alcohol problem in this compelling and moving feature. She speaks frankly about her addiction on the day she's about to enter a rehabilitation centre.
Speech Radio
BBC Radio 5 Live: Robert Enke a life too short
Eleanor Olyroyd hosts a 5live Sport Special a year on from the tragic suicide of Germany goalkeeper Robert Enke. Eleanor visits Enke's home town to speak to the people who knew him best and looks at a story that stunned Germany.
Journalist of the Year sponsored by Axa
Catherine Bennion-Pedley: Company magazine
Catherine has shown an enduring commitment to championing mental health issues in Company magazine. Her coverage on living with depression triggered a huge response from readers.
Student Journalist of the Year
Joshua Jackson: Suffering in silence (University of Lincoln)
A moving and impactful film exploring a young man’s response to his depression and the experiences of those around him.
Chairman’s Special Award
Radio Wanno: Interview with Stephen Fry
Given to Radio Wanno interviewer, who was a prisoner at Wandsworth Prison, for demonstrating outstanding craft and technique.
Speaking Out sponsored by Comic Relief
Rebecca Brown: Trichotillomania
Rebecca Brown’s accessible and entertaining video diaries where she discusses her experience of trichotillomania, an impulse control disorder that causes her to pull out her own hair.
Making a Difference sponsored by Euro RSCG
BBC Radio 4: All in the Mind
Presented to All in the Mind for their innovative and sensitive work on mental health problems the genuine impact it this has made. The award is for those who set the agenda and initiate change.