Michaela Deane, a University of Limerick student from Belmullet, was a runner up of the Headline Award for Student Journalism 2016. Her article ‘Mental health not just confined to anxiety and depression’, which was published online by The Irish Times, was one of five shortlisted entries from journalism students across the country. The competition was judged by the education editor of The Irish Times, Carl O’Brien.
Speaking about Ms Deane’s entry, he said: “Michaela’s article is an excellent first-person exploration of what we talk about when we talk about mental illness. Rather than simply anxiety or depression, she makes the point that there are far more complex forms of illness such as personality disorders, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.” He continued, “She makes a strong case for the fact that these illnesses still suffer from stigma and are frequently misunderstood. The article is engaging, enlightening and highly accessible: the hallmarks of good journalism.”
Headline runs award in an effort to raise awareness among media students of the issues involved when reporting on mental health and suicide and to recognise the good work being produced. Headline is Ireland’s national media monitoring programme, working to promote responsible and accurate coverage of mental health and suicide related issues within the Irish media.
