Mind Media Awards 2014 shortlist announced
The shortlist for the prestigious Mind Media Awards 2014 has been announced. The exceptional shortlisted entries will go head-to-head in categories including Drama, Factual TV and Entertainment when they are awarded by Mind, the mental health charity, at a ceremony at the BFI on Monday 17 November
In a record breaking year Mind received hundreds of entries to its media awards which honour powerful media portrayals and reporting of mental health problems.
Entries in the Factual TV category were so strong this year that an unprecedented seven programmes will be in the running including ‘Bedlam’ on Channel 4, ‘OCD ward’ on ITV and two documentaries broadcast as part of BBC Three's ‘It's a Mad World season’ including ‘Diaries of a Broken Mind’ and ‘Football's Suicide Secret’.
The hotly contested Entertainment category will see BBC One’s ‘The One Show’ up against ‘This Morning’ broadcast on ITV1, while ‘Top Santé’ and ‘Cosmopolitan’ magazines are amongst the nominees battling it out for the title of best Publication.
A diverse shortlist in the Drama category sees E4 comedy ‘My mad fat diary’ compete against period drama ‘Call the midwife’, children’s TV show ‘The dumping ground’ and medical drama ‘Casualty’.
Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind says:
“The Mind Media Awards is a fantastic opportunity to reflect on the positive impact that accurate and informed media reporting can have on perceptions of those with mental health problems.
“It’s been a fantastic year for mental health in the media and we were inundated with an incredible number of entries. We have seen a lot of firsts this year with BBC Three becoming the first broadcaster to dedicate a whole season of programmes to young people’s mental health issues and Top Sante the first glossy magazine to dedicate an entire issue to mental health.
The judges really have a tough job picking winners, and we can’t wait to celebrate with the finalist at this year’s ceremony at the BFI!”
Shortlisted entries will be judged by a panel of media industry experts on criteria including whether the entry challenges common perceptions of mental health, is well-crafted and responsibly produced, safe for intended audiences and reaching new audiences. Joining the judging panel for the first time this year are BBC presenter Sian Williams, Channel 4 News journalist Victoria MacDonald and Radio 5 Men’s Hour presenter Tim Samuels.
The shortlist for the Mind Media Awards 2014 is:
Factual Television
Bedlam, Channel 4
Bedlam chronicles a year in the lives of staff and patients at South London and Maudsley NHS Trust. The programme challenges the myths, taboos and stigma surrounding people with mental health problems.
Diaries of a broken mind, BBC Three
Using handheld cameras to film themselves over six months, 25 young people with a broad range of conditions challenge preconceptions and reveal what life is really like living with a mental health problem.
Football's suicide secret, BBC Three
A documentary following ex-footballer and former Professional Footballers’ Association Chairman Clarke Carlisle as he investigates the taboo subject of depression and suicide in professional football. Clarke talks to high profile players and managers as well as facing his own suicidal thoughts.
Iselder: Un Cam Ar Y Tro, S4C
TV presenter and Rugby referee Owain Gwynedd Griffith talks about the huge impact his father’s depression and suicide had on his family. To gain more insight into his father’s condition Owain speaks to medical experts and people living with depression. He also explores the latest research and treatments for depression.
Notes from the inside with James Rhodes, Channel 4
Five years after being sectioned, classical pianist James Rhodes takes his Steinway grand piano inside one of Britain's largest psychiatric hospitals. He meets four people experiencing various mental health problems and listens to their experiences before selecting and performing a piece of music especially for them.
OCD ward, ITV 1
An observational documentary following people who experience Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) on Britain’s only 24/7 specialist OCD ward. The programme reveals how debilitating OCD can be, examines exposure therapy and how patients live with the illness at home.
Panorama: Broken by battle, BBC One
This Panorama special investigates how many soldiers took their own lives in 2012, interviewing families who have lost their sons and ex-soldiers suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, challenging how they are currently treated by the Ministry of Defence.
Drama
Call the midwife, BBC One
A period drama about a group of midwives working in the East End of London in the 1950s. Sister Julienne and Cynthia deliver first time mother Pamela Saint’s baby. Pamela’s behaviour soon starts to concern Sister Julienne and after consulting with Dr Turner they suspect that she may be experiencing puerperal psychosis. We follow Pamela and her young husband through diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
Casualty, BBC One
The long-running medical drama follows paramedic Iain’s story as he comes to terms with his army past. Iain and colleague Sam visit an old army colleague, Kenny, who is being treated for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. We discover the truth of what happened to Kenny and Iain in Afghanistan, as they both try to face up to the horror of what happened and the mental scars it has left them with.
The dumping ground, CBBC
Children’s TV series which revolves around the lives of children in a care home. Tyler Lewis yearns to be permanently reunited with his mum who has a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. However, when she comes to visit she is unwell and Tyler has to make a difficult decision.
My mad fat diary, E4
Comedy drama looking at life from the perspective of funny, music-obsessed Rae, who recently left a psychiatric hospital. Series two starts as Rae has revealed to her friends for the first time that she has mental health problems. We continue to follow her journey through therapy and hear her innermost thoughts through her candid diary writing.
Entertainment
Embarrassing Bodies: Live from the clinic, Channel 4
The latest series of Embarrassing Bodies Live featured a weekly segment on mental health including short films which introduce eight case studies each describing a different condition.
The One Show
The One Show explores mental health in a number of episodes, including a report by Benjamin Zephaniah on a pioneering 'street triage' scheme, a man with depression who uses ‘wild swimming’ to manage his mental health and drummer Woody from the band Madness who introduces his brother who has psychosis.
This Morning, ITV 1
This Morning takes an in-depth look at mental health in a number of special features. Matt Johnson volunteers at an Ecominds gardening project which helps people experiencing mental health problems. A viewer phone-in sees mental health campaigner Jonny Benjamin, who experiences schizoaffective disorder, answering calls and giving advice alongside Dr Ranj. Actor Adam Rickett speaks openly about his experience of bulimia in a segment focussed on male eating disorders.
Rugby League: State of Mind, Sky Sports 1
Sky Sports highlighted the work of mental health campaign ‘State of Mind’ which arranges for former players with experience of mental health problems to deliver education sessions in clubs. It features interviews with former players including Harry Pinner. The two films aired during the ‘Round of 25’ State of Mind fixtures.
Publication sponsored by Zurich
Community Care
The trade magazine for social workers published a series of investigations highlighting serious failings in mental health services for adults and children featuring the voices of people with mental health problems.
Cosmopolitan
The monthly women’s glossy magazine partnered with the charity Beat for their 25th anniversary, publishing a series of articles about eating disorders. Further features included ‘what not to say to somebody with depression’ and an interview with Health Minister Norman Lamb.
The Guardian Higher Education Network
The supplement published a series of news articles and comment pieces about mental health in universities. It looked at the ‘culture of acceptance’ in higher education of depression, sleep issues, eating disorders, and suicidal thoughts. The reports prompted an unprecedented response from students and academics.
ROAR! News, King’s College London
An investigative special issue of the student tabloid newspaper aimed to dispel myths about people with mental health problems, and give students the opportunity to talk about their own experiences.
Top Santé
Top Sante’s entire May issue focussed on mental health with a ‘Let’s Talk’ campaign aimed at breaking down taboos. From personal accounts, celebrity interviews and expert advice, the magazine addressed a range of mental health problems including anxiety and schizophrenia.
Radio
All in the Mind: 25th anniversary awards, BBC Radio 4
A special edition of the programme to mark its 25th anniversary featured the voices of a range of people with mental health problems highlighting journeys of recovery, friendship and support.
Doing time with Eddie Nestor, Radio Wanno
BBC London radio DJ Eddie Nestor talks to young men in prison about his experiences of coping with depression and addiction.
Outspoken, Radio Verulam
This one-hour special answered questions on mental health, with the local community encouraged to tweet, write or call in with their opinions and experiences.
The truth behind bipolar: Brainwaves, BBC Radio Scotland
Broadcaster Pennie Latin explores bipolar disorder through the personal experiences of Alistair Martin and talks to clinical experts to analyse the condition.
Woman’s Hour: Healthy minds in a mad world, BBC Radio 4
A special edition of the programme exploring mental health triggers, treatments and therapies. Ruby Wax and Madeleine Bunting are among the contributors who join presenter Jenni Murray in the studio for a lively discussion.
Ian Wilkinson News and Current Affairs Award
BBC Look North
A four-part series highlighting the closure of a local mental health unit. The reports followed a 13 year old girl who would go on to be treated more than 100 miles away and the impact this had on her and her family.
BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra Newsbeat: Happiness week
A series of items aired as part of the network’s week dedicated to mental health, including clips from Professor Green’s documentary in which he discusses his experience of how his father’s suicide affected his own life and speaks to young people who had considered making the same choice.
Channel 4 News: Life in chains, Somalia’s mentally ill
Special report on a young man, Abdullahi, who has been chained up by his own family for the last 17 years for having a mental illness. This report shines light on the isolated, barely washed and poorly fed people with mental health problems in Somalia.
ITV News Central
A report which took the inquest of GP Elizabeth Kinston who had been diagnosed with depression as the starting point for an investigation into post-natal depression featuring interviews with women who have personal experience of the condition and are being supported by the charity PANDAS.
ITV News London
This investigation by Ronke Phillips highlights how the justice system is failing some people with mental health problems who are not believed by police when reporting crimes committed against them, providing statistics that show that this group are particularly likely to become victims of violent crime.
Blogger
Black Dog Runner (blackdogrunner.wordpress.com)
Black Dog Runner chronicles his experience of depression with the aim of raising awareness of mental health problems by writing in a light hearted and accessible way.
Ellen White (ellensocdblog.wordpress.com)
Teenager Ellen blogs about her experience of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder as well as her own personal campaign to change public attitudes towards OCD.
Martha Roberts (menthalhealthwise.com)
This blog was set up because of Martha’s own experiences. The blog touches on a range of topics and is a useful resource packed with information and advice.
Sectioned (sectioneduk.wordpress.com)
This blog provides a hard-hitting commentary on all issues surrounding mental health including accessing treatment, crisis care and restraint.
Journalist sponsored by Bupa
Danny Buckland, Sunday Express
Danny Buckland covers a broad range of issues on mental health including first person accounts of post-traumatic stress disorder, cuts to mental health funding, suicide and access to care for people with schizophrenia.
Vicky Johnson, BBC Look North
Vicky’s four-part series highlighted the closure of a local mental health unit. Her report over several months followed a 13 year old girl who would go on to be treated more than 100 miles away from her family. Vicky’s report led to MP Alan Johnson leading a Commons debate on the subject.
Andy McNicoll, Community Care and Michael Buchanan, BBC News
Andy McNicoll and Michael Buchanan’s joint investigations have highlighted the need for more funding for mental health services. Reports have included the revelation that 1,700 mental health beds had been cut in two years and finding a huge number of children being sent miles away from home for care.
Claire Shaw, Guardian Higher Education Network
Claire has written eloquently on a range of issues around mental health in universities. Her reports uncovered that staff and students are experiencing anxiety, poor work-life balance and isolation and aren't finding the support they need.
Mieka Smiles and Sarah Walker, Evening Gazette, Teesside
Mieka Smiles and Sarah Walker have published a number of articles about mental health problems with an anti-stigma message on subjects including post-natal depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Anna Sargent Student Journalist
The editorial team at Roar! News, Kings College London
The team produced an investigative special issue of the student tabloid ROAR! News. It aimed to dispel myths about people with mental health problems, and give students the opportunity to talk about their own experiences.
Michael O’Connell-Davidson, Quench Magazine, Cardiff University
Michael’s well written long-form feature investigates the quality of mental health support at university and highlights the experiences of students with mental health problems. It scrutinises the services available as part of Quench magazine’s ‘One in Four’ campaign.
Jemma Hall, Treading Water, Nottingham Trent University
Jemma’s documentary on post-traumatic stress disorder in lifeguards looks at the effects of PTSD, the support available and how the public's perception of mental health can negatively impact on those experiencing mental health problems.
Shena Simon Campus, The Manchester College
Media students at Shena Simon Campus produced seven viral videos using their own life experience to reduce stigma around mental health and encourage young people to talk. The students created the videos for Rochdale and District Mind’s new Listen Up project, which is aimed at supporting people under the age of 25 with their mental health and wellbeing needs.
Amy Spiteri, Meet Alice, Inna Vision Film School
Amy’s documentary introduces the world to 'Meet Alice', an artist who also has a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder. In the film Alice speaks about her art and inspirations and how experiencing a mental health problem has made her a better person.
A further two awards will also be presented at the ceremony, including:
Speaking Out
Presented to an individual who has experienced mental health problems, for their inspirational contribution to at least one of the shortlisted entries.
Making a Difference, sponsored by Havas
Presented to a broadcaster or individual whose innovative and sensitive work on mental health problems has made a genuine impact. The award is for those who set the agenda and initiate change.