Aussie radio SBS Punjabi wins mental health award

SBS Punjabi won an award at this year’s Mental Health Matters Awards in recognition of four stories that were broadcast over the Aussie radio channel.

The station took home the Media Award for the 2018 Mental Health Matters Awards for two stories researched and presented by Dr Preetinder Singh Grewal and another two produced and broadcast by executive producer Manpreet Kaur Singh.

Preetinder received this award on behalf of SBS Punjabi for raising awareness in the fields of the mental health and wellbeing.

At the award ceremony, Preetinder emphasised the need to raise mental health awareness among the culturally and linguistically diverse communities (CALD).

“Sometimes people from migrant communities are not vocal to share their mental health problems,” he said. “We’ve the advantage as we speak their own language. We’ve access to many language-speaking mental health practitioners who provide advice on how to get the much-needed help,” he was quoted in a SBS Punjabi report.

He said that despite some serious mental programs, there are still important gaps in mental health care for the migrant families.

“Having a mental illness and asking for helping is nothing to be ashamed of. If you’re not feeling well, it’s important that you talk to a doctor, a mental health organization or somebody you trust,” he says.

SBS Punjabi has been consistently covering stories of mental health focusing on the Punjabi speaking community, broadcasting in the Punjabi language, the report said.

The annual award run by WayAhead were presented during the annual Mental Health Month launched on 27 September. The special guests were NSW Minister for Mental Health MP Tanya Davies and NSW Mental Health Commissioner Catherine Lourey.

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