MHA’s 2022 Media Award recognizes journalists, authors, digital platforms, media outlets, television shows and filmmakers that have tackled the issues of mental illness and addiction – and in doing so, have educated, informed, and broken down stigma and shame around these issues.
MHA is awarding the Media Award to the WBIR Newsroom & Production Team for WBIR’s Mental Health Monday, which was born out of seeing a need that has always been in existence but abruptly took a front seat in so many people's lives in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. WBIR partnered with the Mental Health Association of East Tennessee to produce a series of Mental Health Monday segments that aired within their evening newscasts and developed a multi-platform cross discipline campaign. All content and messaging focused on removing stigma, educating on how to manage mental health issues and encouraging free screenings.