The Irish Times claimed one of the top prizes at the 2024 Shine Mental Health Media Awards on Wednesday – which recognise excellence in the coverage of mental health issues.
Malachy Clerkin was awarded the “Print & Online | Special Interest” award for a piece titled, Orlagh Lally: ‘There were days where I would just sit there and I didn’t care about anything’. In the article, the three-time All-Ireland winner with Meath – and now Aussie Rules professional – talked about her mental health struggles and losing her friend Red Óg Murphy. The young Sligo footballer died by suicide in April, 2022.
Three other Irish Times journalists were also nominated for awards – Jen Hogan in the “Print & Online | National” category for Can schools stand up to the bullies? and Sorcha Pollak and Sally Hayden – both in the “Refugee Mental Health” category – for Concern raised over safety of women in direct provision centres after incidences of violence and Rescue ship tries to save minds as well as bodies on the Mediterranean, respectively.
Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost (Alleycats for RTÉ) won several awards at the ceremony – including “Broadcast | Long Form”, “Special Recognition” and “Shine Audience Choice Award”. Alan Bradley, who directed the documentary, also was named “Mental Health Champion”.
Print & Online | National
- Winner: ‘It was degrading’ – former patient tells of distress as inspectors reveal rundown state of psychiatric unit – Eilish O’Regan for Irish Independent
- The psychosis arts collective: how a group of artists who have experienced the condition are challenging perceptions – Niamh Jimenez for Irish Independent
- CAMHS refusing to treat girl with suicidal thoughts shows ‘autistic children are being failed’ – Eimer McAuley for The Journal
- Calls for inquiry into birth trauma in Ireland, as women decry lack of empathy and consent in HSE – Mairead Maguire for The Journal
- Can schools stand up to the bullies? – Jen Hogan for The Irish Times
Print & Online | Local
- Winner: ‘I prayed they would answer their phones’ – Stephen Fernane for The Kerryman
- ‘The scars he caused must never be forgotten’ – David Looby for New Ross Standard
- Concern over rise in school refusal – Emma Connolly for Southern Star newspaper
- Only the Lonely – Sarah Horgan for The Echo
- ‘We took matters into our own hands.’ – Emma Connolly for Southern Star
Print & Online | Special Interest
- Winner: Orlagh Lally: ‘There were days where I would just sit there and I didn’t care about anything’ – Malachy Clerkin for The Irish Times
- The Invisible Struggle of PMDD – Niamh Devereux for Irish Country Magazine
- The psychosis arts collective: how a group of artists who have experienced the condition are challenging perceptions – Niamh Jimenez for Irish Independent
- Perfect storm increases suicide risk for farmers – Jacqueline Hogge for Irish Country Living
- Why do so many young men struggle with loneliness and isolation? – Helen O’Callaghan for Irish Examiner
Broadcast | Long Form
- Winner: Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost – Alleycats for RTÉ
- Beyond Control – Prime Time for RTÉ
- Second Chances, Episode 1 – Mind The Gap Films for Virgin Media Television
- Meanapás: Meon Nua – Tyrone Productions for TG4
- Lost for Words – Subotica for RTÉ
Broadcast | Short Form
- Winner: 13 on TikTok – Kate McDonald for Prime Time, RTÉ
- Coercive control: ‘He slowly became very controlling’ on Moncrieff, Newstalk
- Survivors of the Sex trade – Sarah Madden for The Pat Kenny Show, Newstalk
- Martin Gavin Interview – Ella McSweeney for Ear To The Ground, RTÉ
- ‘Please help us’ – Traveller woman has lost 29 relatives to suicide – James Wilson for The Pat Kenny Show, Newstalk
Digital Content
- Winner: The Stardust Tragedy, Episode 6 “Wounds Deepen” – The Irish Sun podcast
- Creativity: the answer to crafting hope – Daragh Fleming, TEDx
- Trans woman allegedly denied urgent treatment at Dublin hospital – Irish Independent, The Indo Daily podcast
- Owning mental illness with Sophie White – Caroline Foran, Owning It podcast
- Ready to be Real with Richard Hogan – Síle Seoige, Ready to be Real podcast
Refugee Mental Health Award | supported by UNHCR and Irish Red Cross
- Winner: As more people seeking asylum are left to sleep rough, it makes it even harder for them to access mental-health care they may need – Shamim Malekmian for Dublin Inquirer
- Losing Hope – The Mental Strain for Asylum Seekers living in Tents – John Cooke for RTÉ Radio 1
- ‘She was alive but there was no help’: Appeal launched for mother who watched daughter (5) die from gunshot wound as family fled Gaza – Tom Galvin for Bray People
- Concern raised over safety of women in direct provision centres after incidences of violence – Sorcha Pollak for The Irish Times
- Rescue ship tries to save minds as well as bodies on the Mediterranean – Sally Hayden for The Irish Times
Student Journalism Award | in partnership with Journal Media
- Winner: Chronic Waiting: Mental Health of Asylum Seekers in Ireland – Madeleine Masoudi from Griffith College Dublin
- Writing to Freedom – Siobhán Brosnan from Kerry College
- A perfect storm: loneliness in Ireland – Alexander Lopatin, from University of Galway
- Misdiagnosis and the portrayal of mental health on TikTok – Isabella Roussel for Trinity News, Trinity College Dublin
- Research shows the importance of Travellers’ mental health in Ireland – Latisha McCrudden for Sin, University of Galway
Special Recognition
- Winner: Pat & Michelle McDonagh – featured in Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost, RTÉ One
- “Louise” – featured in ‘Life with an eating disorder: Don’t wait for rock bottom’, TheJournal.ie
- Martin Gavin – featured in Ear to the Ground, RTÉ One
- Colm O’Gorman – featured in ‘Church is responsible for the facilitation and cover-up of the rape and abuse of hundreds of thousands of children’, New Ross Standard
- PJ Gallagher – featured in PJ Gallagher: Changing My Mind, RTÉ One
