Alongside research and rehabilitation, SCARF is deeply committed to raise awareness and sensitize the general public about mental health and related issues, through various means and methods. Besides organizing events which allow people from different walks of life to know and understand mental health related issues, SCARF encourages others to contribute to the cause of mental health awareness as well. The annual SCARF Media for Mental Health awards recognize and encourage print journalists across the country for their contribution towards mental health awareness.

Have you published an article that addresses the importance of mental health or the disorders of the mind or on the discrimination of the mentally ill? If yes, then share it with us.

The awards recognize a distinguished body of work that has contributed to “Mental Health Awareness”
As part of our efforts to improve public awareness on mental health and reduce stigma, we have been giving away Media Awards for the Best Articles on Mental Health. This is the 7th edition of these awards.SCARF & the Press Institute of India instituted awards for Mental Health Reporting in 2012. This was primarily to encourage more journalists to write on mental health related issues in an attempt to reduce the stigma in the society. This award is for the best reported– articles on mental health issues in any Indian language or English and published in Indian newspapers/ magazines.

Luminaries like Sri Gopal Krishna Gandhi, Mr.P.Sainath, Justice (Retd.) Prabha Sridevan etc. have addressed the awardees and given away the awards in the previous years

Rules For Sending Entries

  • Journalists (including freelancers) who have published articles on mental health in any print/online newspaper, magazines are eligible to participate. The article should have been published in an Indian national or regional newspaper/magazine or credible online platform between April 2022 and March 2023 in English or any Indian languages.
  • Applicants must submit entries that focus on or highlight one or more aspects of mental health such as disorders of the mind, mental health care delivery, stigma, workplace mental health, and school mental health.
  • News reports of incidents or coverage of events related to mental health will not qualify. Blogs and writeups on websites will not qualify.
  • If the article is published in any of the regional languages, an English translation must be provided.
  • Articles written by mental health professionals in any of the national, regional or credible online newspapers/magazines can also apply; such entries will be considered under a separate category.
  • Entries must be sent by September 15, 2023.
  • The decision of the jury will be final. The results will be announced by SCARF (I) in October 2023.

Prize money for English/Indian language/online categories:

  • First Prize – Rs.15,000/-

  • Second Prize – Rs.10,000/-

  • Third Prize – Rs. 8,000/-

Fellowships

2020 Prize Winners Were

English Category

  • First Place – Tabassum Barnagarwala – The Indian Express
  • Tanishka Sodhi and Abhimanyu Hazarika – The News Laundry
  • Shreevatsa Nevatia – The Huffington Post

Regional Category

  • First Place – Narjis Husain – Sehatraag Online
  • Second Place – Santhosh Sisupal – Maronama Arogyam

2018 Prize Winners Were

English Category

  • Ms. Jyoti Shelar (The Hindu)
  • Mr. Ramanathan S (TheNewsMinute.com)
  • Ms. Disha Shetty (The Wire)

Regional Category

  • Ms. Usha Narayanan (Kungumam Doctor)
  • Ms. Maheswari N (Kungumam Thozhi)

2017 Prize Winners Were

  • Ms.Soma Basu (The Hindu)
  • Ms.Priya Menon (The Times of India)
  • Ms. Zubeda Hamid (The Hindu)
  • Ms.Marisha Karwa (Daily News)
  • Mr.Nelson Vinod Moses (Factor Daily)
  • Ms.Mrinalika Roy (News Minute)
  • Ms.Mini Thomas (The Week)