2014 overall award for positive media coverage of mental health and suicide.
Headline, the national media monitoring programme for mental health and suicide has selected the Irish Independent as the winner of its 2014 overall award for positive media coverage of mental health and suicide.
Headline created the overall award, won this year by the Irish Independent to recognise the excellent work by media professionals for their outstanding coverage of the difficult issues surrounding mental health and suicide in a sensitive and positive way.
Headline works with journalists and media organisations to ensure that mental health and suicide related issued are responsibly covered in the media. Speaking on the award, Jane Arigho, Media Project Coordinator at Headline highlighted how,
“The media have a key role to play in how the public think about suicide and mental health problems. The excellent work of the Irish Independent with particular reference to Celine Naughton and Anita Guidera encourages help seeking behaviour and helps to remove the stigmas and myths that surround these issues.”
Upon receiving the prestigious award, Acting Editor of the Irish Independent Ian Mallon said
“The area of mental health and suicide is one of the most difficult subjects in which we as journalists must report on with great responsibly and care. To receive this award from Headline demonstrates that we at the Irish Independent understand the importance and sensitivity of this issue. We will continue to work diligently in our handling of this important subject matter.”
“Our team of journalists on the Irish Independent are delighted to receive this award. At INM our journalists take the subject of mental health very seriously and are conscious of the need to report comprehensively and sensitively in this area. Last year all our titles in print and online rolled out a week long campaign on mental health, highlighting issues and the need to take care of our mental health as much as our physical wellbeing. To receive this award from Headline is a gratefully received acknowledgement of the hard work put in by our journalistic teams.”
