Mental Health America Recognizes 15 Journalists for Mental Health Reporting

Contact: Jason Halal, 703-797-1943
 or jhalal@mentalhealthamerica.net

 ALEXANDRIA, Va. (June 8, 2007) - Mental Health America will honor 15 professional and student journalists for outstanding coverage of mental health issues today at a Media Awards Luncheon held during its 2007 Annual Meeting, Bringing Wellness Home, in Washington, D.C.

"These journalists' creativity, passion and skill contribute greatly to the mental health movement," said Mental Health America President and CEO David Shern, Ph.D.  "We honor them today for their role in raising Americans' awareness of mental illness and the importance of mental health for all people.  Mental Health America is proud to recognize their work, which represents the very best mental health reporting throughout 2006."    

Mental Health America 2007 Media Awards winners include:

Local Television
WNET (New York, N.Y.), "Coping with an Alcoholic Parent," by Rich Sabreen and Tom Tebbens

National Television
CNN, "Perfection Obsession," by Elizabeth Cohen, Jeanne D'Agostino, and Victor Neufeld

Local Radio
WFCR (Amherst, Mass.), "A Burden to Be Well: Sisters and Brothers of the Mentally Ill," by Karen Brown

National Radio
The Infinite Mind, "Four Lives," by Mary Carmichael

Local/Regional Magazines
The Washingtonian, "Saving My Son," by Pete Earley

National Magazines
Glamour, "Why I Went Hungry," by Alison Smith

Newspapers with a Circulation Below 100,000
South Bend Tribune, "Out of Sight: Mental Illness and the Criminal Justice System" series, by Alicia Gallegos

Newspapers with a Circulation Above 100,000
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, "Abandoning Our Mentally Ill" series, by Meg Kissinger

Students: Print
New Youth Connections, "Walking Away from the Fight," by an anonymous youth

Advice Columns
bp, Personal Mental Health Columns, by Julie Fast

Photo Essay
St. Joseph News-Press, "Turning Away from the Institution," by Benjamin Reed

Outstanding Coverage of Mental Health Research
American Public Media/National Public Radio, "Rewiring the Brain: Early Deprivation and Child Development," by Sasha Aslanian and Anne Gudenkauf

Outstanding Portrayal of Persons with Mental Illnesses
KHOU (Houston, Texas), "Key to a Better Life," by Nancy Holland

Outstanding Coverage of a Mental Health Issue
The Tampa Tribune, "A Broken Mind," by Jan Hollingsworth

Outstanding First-Person Account of a Mental Health Issue
The Times-Picayune, "Hell and Back," by Chris Rose

A volunteer judging panel of media professionals selected winning entries for their educational value, outstanding quality, comprehensiveness and creativity in addressing timely issues in mental health.  Members of this year's panel represent such reputable media outlets as Nation's Health, Cox Newspapers, Channel One, Voice of America and United Press International.   

Mental Health America's Annual Meeting, Bringing Wellness Home, is being held June 6-9, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.  Each year, the Annual Meeting brings together advocates, mental health consumers, policy makers and community leaders from across the country to strengthen and build the Mental Health America movement and to ensure social justice for all people affected by mental health problems. 

Mental Health America is the country's leading nonprofit dedicated to helping ALL people live mentally healthier lives.  With our more than 320 affiliates nationwide, we represent a growing movement of Americans who promote mental wellness for the health and well-being of the nation - everyday and in times of crisis.

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