Journalists who have penned articles on mental health issues in the past year are being invited to enter an awards contest run by Mental Health Media.

The group runs a range of projects to help give people with experience of mental distress the ability to challenge discrimination, and works with the media to inform coverage of mental health issues.

It is to present awards to journalists and organisations across 11 categories, including factual print, television and radio as well as storylines from soaps and dramas.

Judges will be looking for articles and programmes which focus on mental health problems or mental or emotional distress, challenge myths and misinformation, and give a voice to people with mental health problems.

Maggie Gibbons, chief executive of Mental Health Media, said: "We've begun to detect a sea change in the way mental health issues are portrayed.

"We know the media has a key role in winning hearts and minds, and that's why the awards are so important."

Nominations can be made by journalists and programme makers as well as the general public. The entry deadline is June 6.

For more details go to www.mhmawards.net

Winners will be announced in October.

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