HONLULU - The Media Watch Committee of the American Psychological Association (APA) Division of Media Psychology will present two awards at APA's Annual Convention in Honolulu: the Golden Psi Media Award and the News Media Recognition Award. The popular television series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit will receive the Golden Psi for their responsible portrayal of mental health professionals and the show's consumer education regarding appropriate behavior by mental health professionals. Patricia Bellinghausen of the Billings Gazette will receive the News Media Recognition Award for her coverage of mental health issues. The Media Watch Committee will present the awards at 6:00 PM on Thursday, July 29 at the Hilton Hawai'an Village Hotel in the Honolulu Suite 1.
After viewing episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, the Media Watch Committee was impressed by the increased role of forensic psychiatrist Dr. George Huang, his professional behavior, and the respect he received from the other characters. Two episodes were selected as specific examples of why Law & Order: Special Victims Unit deserves this award: "Coerced," which dealt with the ethical dilemma of forced medication of mentally ill suspects, and "Hate," which featured Huang debunking a simplistic genetic explanation of hate crimes and explaining their psychosocial causes.
The Golden Psi award was developed to recognize media products that show psychologists or psychiatrists behaving in a highly professional manner or those that clearly label unprofessional behavior. The Committee feels that Law & Order: Special Victims Unit deserves high marks on both counts.
Bellinghausen, who is a fellow of the Carter Center for Mental Health Journalism as well as a reporter at the Billings Gazette, was selected for her consistent reporting on psychological and mental health issues and how they relate to legislation and the lives of Montana residents. Some of her many relevant stories have covered the mental health needs of children, Medicaid, mental health and homelessness, and the importance of tailoring mental health services to different cultures.
The Committee is especially pleased to present the award this year to a journalist at a smaller outlet, highlighting the fine work being done outside of the major metropolitan areas to provide public education on mental health issues.
The American Psychological Association (APA), in Washington, DC, is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States and is the world's largest association of psychologists. APA's membership includes more than 150,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 53 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance psychology as a science, as a profession and as a means of promoting health, education and human welfare.