Judges

Paul Abbott

Paul Abbott is one of British television’s leading writing talents. His multi-award winning work includes Shameless, State of Play, Clocking Off, Linda Green and Cracker. Paul has won awards for writing and producing, including the BAFTS Dennis Potter Award for Outstanding writing achievement in television. Paul has spoken out about his own experience of mental distress in the media.
 
Patrick Butler
Patrick Butler is editor of SocietyGuardian. He was previously editor of SocietyGuardian.co.uk. Prior to joining the Guardian in 2000, he reported on social affairs for a range of national newspapers and professional magazines.
 
Sian Davies
Sian Davies is the Assistant national officer at UNISON covering FE and Schools. Her speciality is equality. Previous to these roles she was Disability Equality Organiser at UCU/UNISON, coordinating on a national project that had been funded by the DfES. Sian is also a trustee of SKILL- the national bureau for students with disabilities and was the spokesperson for the Department of Health’s young person mental health campaign ‘Read the Signs’ as well as being a media ambassador and trainer for the Department of Health’s Mind Out for Mental Health campaign.

Sian has appeared in a diverse range of media speaking out about young people and mental health and her personal experiences as well as taking part in the BBC 3 documentary Bye Bye Happiness. In 2003 she won the Mental Health Media Survivor of the year award for her interview on Sky News speaking about her self harm and mental health.

Jane Drabble
Jane Drabble was Director of Education at the BBC from 1994 until July 1999. She had previously been a Producer on Panorama, Editor of Everyman, Assistant Managing Director, Network Television and Head of Factual Programmes. Jane retired from the BBC in July 1999 and was Chair of Mental Health Media from 2002 to 2006.
Donna Franceschild

BAFTA winning writer Donna Franceschild won a Mental Health Media Award in 1995 for her drama serial Takin' Over the Asylum and again in 2001 for Donovan Quick. She has written extensively for television, radio and stage; and has tackled mental health issues in the Guardian Society, Mental Health Today and in a recent documentary for Radio Scotland. Donna has always been very open about her own diagnosis of bipolar.
Professor Roger Graef

Born in NYC, Roger Graef was the first documentary filmmaker to be honoured with the BAFTA Fellowship, the Academy’s lifetime achievement award. He has made more than 120 films as director, producer and executive producer, covering current affairs, social affairs arts and comedies, including The Secret Policeman’s Ball. Roger was awarded an OBE in 2006 for his services to broadcasting.
David Lloyd

David Lloyd is Visiting Professor of television journalism at City University.

Until 2002 he was Head of News and Current Affairs at Channel 4, where he founded both the Dispatches and Unreported World series. Before that he edited many of the BBC's most important news and current affairs programmes, including Newsnight, The Money Programme and Breakfast Time. He has been on the judging panel for the Mental Health Media Awards since 1998.
Liz Main

Liz Main is a mental health specialist with a background in journalism, television production and public relations. She now works with the Royal College of Psychiatrists and voluntary sector on mental health policy, with a particular emphasis on reducing stigma and discrimination. Liz was awarded the Mental Health Media Survivor Award in 2002 for a Channel 4 report on mental health legislation.

Chair of Judging Day
Eric Appleby
Eric Appleby is an independent consultant specialising in work with the voluntary sector, with a particular interest in mental health. He spent over 20 years as a voluntary sector Chief Executive (12 as CEO of Alcohol Concern) and has held senior positions in the key voluntary sector bodies, including serving three terms as Chair of the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO), as well as acting as an adviser to the Cabinet Office. Eric is a Trustee of Mental Health Media.