The 2025 Shine Mental Health Media Awards

Celebrating stories that break down stereotypes, engage audiences and enhance the public’s understanding of mental health challenges.

Shine Mental Health Media Awards

2025 Shortlist

The Mental Health Media Awards celebrate work across 12 categories and a wide range of media platforms, highlighting the unique role of journalists, producers and storytellers.

Print & Online | National

‘He was kept locked in a room with a leg-shackle until the 1980s’: Stories from Ireland’s state-run asylums

Kitty Holland

The Irish Times

Why prison is no place for the mentally ill

Ann Murphy

Irish Examiner

HSE reviews death of patient in psychiatric facility that did not record suicide warnings

Maeve Sheehan

Sunday Independent

Perinatal depression: 'People said my newborn was the best Christmas present - but I didn't feel it'

Niamh O'Reilly

Irish Independent

How dysfunction in a mental health unit contributed to the death of a teenage girl

Shane Phelan

Irish Independent

Print & Online | Local

The Waterford families sleeping on the streets just to stay together

Shannon Sweeney

Waterford News and Star

It feels like there’s nobody listening': Cork mum's plea for improved eating disorder services

Amy Campbell

The Echo (Cork)

Living with the trauma of war many miles from home

Richard Canny

Roscommon Herald

WEST CORK FARMING: Talking is therapy

Emma Connolly

Southern Star

Coercive control law needs to be changed

Dan Danaher

Clare Champion

Print & Online | Special Interest

The Invisible Struggle of OCD

Niamh Devereux

Irish Country Magazine

You're witnessing a killing over and over': Why don't we give jurors greater supports?

Ann Murphy

Irish Examiner

I would go whole days without talking to another adult' - the loneliness of early motherhood

Niamh O'Reilly

Irish Independent

Preventing suicide needs everyone’s input. Here’s how the GAA plays its part

Malachy Clerkin

The Irish Times

How counselling helps with healing

Helen O'Callaghan

Irish Examiner

Broadcast | Long Form

Leathered: Violence in Irish Schools

John Downes

RTÉ

Hooked: How addiction hijacks your brain

Cable Rock Pictures

RTÉ

Anorexia, My Family & Me

Alleycats

RTÉ

Women locked up: Inside the Dóchas (Ep 2)

Midas Productions

Virgin Media Television

First on Scene, Last to Heal: Emergency Workers and Fatal Collisions

Alex Rowley

Newstalk

Broadcast | Short Form

Leathered: Violence in Irish Schools

John Downes

RTÉ

Hooked: How addiction hijacks your brain

Cable Rock Pictures

RTÉ

Anorexia, My Family & Me

Alleycats

RTÉ

Women locked up: Inside the Dóchas (Ep 2)

Midas Productions

Virgin Media Television

First on Scene, Last to Heal: Emergency Workers and Fatal Collisions

Alex Rowley

Newstalk

Digital Content

Irish Asylums: A Dark History We Don't Talk About. Why?

Irish History Podcast

Suicide Bereavement, ep. 111

Talking Health and Wellbeing Podcast

HSE

Mary Ann Kenny's story of Grief, Psychosis and Recovery

The Laura Dowling Experience Podcast

The Laura Dowling Experience Podcast

Nikki Hayes Interview

The Indo Daily Podcast

The Indo Daily Podcast

Listen to the land with Manchán Magan

Where is My Mind? Podcast

Student Journalism Award

The Real Cian Stanley

Cian Stanley

Dundalk Institute of Technology

Adult ADHD in Ireland

Robyn Power

Munster Technological University Cork

The Dungeon

Ben Holland

Dundalk Institute of Technology

The Weight We Carry

Catherine Duggan

University of Limerick

Let’s pathologize everything: Repackaging human experience

Safreen AC

University College Dublin

Special Recognition Award

Hala Sourani

featured in

Ready To Be Real Podcast

Emer McLysaght

featured in

The Irish Times

Máirtín Ó Cathasaigh

featured in

Glúin Z, TG4

Nikki Hayes

featured in

The Indo Daily Podcast

Mary Ann Kenny's story of Grief, Psychosis and Recovery

The Laura Dowling Experience Podcast

The Laura Dowling Experience Podcast

Shine Audience Choice Award

Hooked: How addiction hijacks your brain

Cable Rock Pictures

RTÉ

Women locked up: Inside the Dóchas

Midas Productions

Virgin Media Television

Anorexia, My Family & Me

Alleycats

RTÉ

Suicide Bereavement, ep. 111

Talking Health and Wellbeing Podcast

HSE

Six O'Clock Show: Nikki Hayes Interview

Virgin Media Television

Refugee Mental Health Award | supported by UNHCR and Irish Red Cross

Can you hear me?' Dispatches from the world's forgotten war

Sarah Madden

Newstalk

Gaza calling: Loved ones in limbo

Dan Dooner

Shannonside Northern Sound

‘I’m so scared’: Families in limbo after being told to leave international protection accommodation

Órla Ryan

The Irish Times

Dementia patient's daughter pleads for safer housing before Cork hotel eviction

Sarah Horgan

Irish Examiner

Mental Health Series | supported by HSE Mental Health Recovery & Engagement

Hooked: How addiction hijacks your brain

Cable Rock Pictures

RTÉ

Women locked up: Inside the Dóchas

Midas Productions

Virgin Media Television

Finding a way back from heroin addiction

Sarah Horgan

Irish Examiner

Mental Health Champion

Ann Murphy

Irish Examiner

Irish Examiner

audience choice awards 2025

Voting is now open for our 10 nominations longlisted for the Audience Choice Awards 2025. Click below to read more on each programme and cast your vote.

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