Authors: Examiner Newspapers Thornlie WA Journalist: Raquel De Brito
Year: 2007
Event: 2007 TheMHS Awards
Subject:
Type of resource: TheMHS Awards
Award state: WA
Award level: Winner
Award category: Community / Regional Print Media
Abstract: This story was inspired by Raquel attending a public meeting one night about a mental health facility being proposed in the area. Residents had given the heads up about the meeting an urged her to attend because they were outraged with the lack of community consultation over the proposed facility. Raquel went into that meeting for a story about residents being left in the dark by the State Government. However, comments made showed there was still a stigma attached to mental illness and so explored this further. As a result, the paper was flooded with letters. One woman from the area who lived with depression called and wanted to share her story. Her story was courageous and heartbreaking. She proved mental illness did not equate to violence. She pleaded with the community to embrace each other’s differences and offered hope to others suffering in silence. Raquel De Brito completed a Bachelor of Communications, majoring in journalism at Edith Cowan University in 2003. She then worked at local radio station Heritage FM where she wrote and read the news on air. Raquel started working as a journalist at the Examiner Newspapers in March, 2004. During her time at the community paper, she covered a broad range of issues within its distribution area. She has now moved on to the Sunday Times where she works as a full-time journalist.
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