Background

"There is tremendous potential for journalists to improve the public's understanding of mental health issues and to play a critical role in reducing stigma and discrimination against people with mental illnesses," says Former U.S. First Lady Rosalynn Carter - founder of The Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism

The establishment of the New Zealand Mental Health Media Grants is preceded by five years of The Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism New Zealand.

From 2001 - 2006, the Fellowship Program awarded two $12,000 fellowships each year to successful New Zealand journalists to assist them in completing mental health media projects.

2005/2006 was the final year of the Fellowships in New Zealand (with oversight by The Carter Center). In its place, the new NZ Mental Health Media Grants program was created (a partnership between Like Minds, Like Mine and the Mental Health Foundation) so that The Carter Center can provide opportunities to journalists in a new country.

The challenge they left behind was to establish a similar programme as part of the Like Minds Like Mine campaign.

The New Zealand Mental Health Media Grants were developed and will be administered by the Mental Health Foundation (MHF).

The programme is expected to build on the Fellowship Program and continue to develop ways mental health stories maybe covered in balanced and non discriminatory ways. It will also provide the opportunity for individuals and groups to develop projects that promote positive messages about mental health.

More about the Fellowship Program
More about the 2008 Grants