Mental health services and issues are not often talked about, even though most people know someone who is affected by them, and often are similarly lost in the shuffle when it comes to media coverage and reporting. So when a media organization excels at responsible, sensitive reporting on mental health, it really means they are doing something right.
The
Manistee News-Advocate received a statewide award for its reporting on mental health issues and services recently. The newspaper was presented with the 2011 Jim Neubacher Award, from the Michigan Association of Community Mental Health Boards.
"This is a wonderful way of saying thanks for the work the Advocate has done to increase understanding and acceptance of people with disabilities," says Chip Johnston, executive director of
Centra Wellness Network, formerly Manistee-Benzie Community Mental Health. "We could not be more pleased to have this honor bestowed in our area of service to a media organization that realizes that most of us are touched in some way by people living with a mental illness or a developmental disability."
The award is given annually to a media outlet that shows balanced, sensitive and responsible reporting on mental health issues, including recipients of mental health services and public mental health systems. It's named for Jim Neubacher, a former columnist for the Detroit Free Press, who advocated for those with mental and physical disabilities.
"The leadership, reporters and staff at the Advocate recognize that we are all one community and the provision of support, treatment and recovery services for those living with a mental illness or a developmental disability is vital to our quality of life and economic well-being. The Advocate's positive and sensitive coverage supports and encourages recovery and the important role of everyone in the fabric of our communities," says Johnston.
The News-Advocate received the award at the Michigan Association of Community Mental Health Boards' conference in May.
Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Chip Johnston, Centra Wellness Network
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