Mental Health Journalism Awards launched

13 May 2011

Pfizer and the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) will be awarding two journalists a stipend of R25 000 per person in the newly launched Pfizer Mental Health Journalism Awards for 2011/2012. These follow on from the Carter Center Mental Health Journalism Fellowships, which have been awarded to South African print and broadcast journalists for the last six years.

Rosalynn Carter started these Fellowships, as she felt journalists had the power to reach the masses and help break down the stigma attached to mental health. Over the last 15 years she has indeed reached many hundreds of thousands people through her Fellows, many of whom have won major awards, for their work in print, radio, television, documentary and books.

Fellows are not required to leave their employment during the fellowship year and are encouraged to choose timely projects that may educate the public and raise awareness about important mental health concerns.

Pfizer country manager, Brian Daniel, says, "The company firmly believes that journalists and the media can play a vital role in improving the health and well-being of all South Africans. They have the ability to play a major role in public education on diseases and they should be recognised as health care stakeholders. It is therefore in our interest to engage and work closely with this professional group."

"One of SADAG's priorities is the education of health-care and media professionals, as well as the public in matters of mental health," adds SADAG founder and director, Zane Wilson. "The Mental Health Journalism Awards allow us to access others through the media by training journalists in all mental health matters and permitting them to do their own research in aspects of the field. We feel confident that these awards will promote enthusiasm among the journalistic community."

For more information on the Mental Health Journalism Awards 2011/2012, email Marion Scher at az.oc.noci@onruoj.