PTSD program wins prestigious international award
November 29, 2009A co-production from the Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health (ACPMH) and the Rural Health Education Foundation on trauma recovery was the only program outside North America to win a “FREDDIE” statuette at the prestigious 2009 International Health and Medical Media Awards.
The program, entitled Recovery from Trauma: What Works, was selected by the US-based judging panel as the best health education video from anywhere in the world in the Psychiatry category.
Coincidentally, the program was released at the same time as the Black Saturday fires occurred in Victoria earlier this year, which provided health professionals dealing with victims during that time with an appropriate and accessible resource to assist in their treatment.
Recovery from Trauma: What Works was produced in February 2009 as a 29-minute educational television program aimed at people who have experienced a traumatic event, or are close to someone who has - and need help to cope with the experience.
The program was co-produced by the Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, with Professor Mark Creamer and Associate Professor David Forbes from ACPMH as lead program presenters.
Amanda Little and Maurie O’Connor produced the project for the Rural Health Education Foundation and the resultant DVD was offered to all rural and remote health practitioners throughout Australia as an aid for patients being treated for trauma.
Associate Professor David Forbes from the Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health said the Centre was very proud that the program was the only non-American program entered this year - and the first Australian program in recent memory - to win a FREDDIE.
He says: “The fact that there was only one other finalist from outside North America in any of the award categories this year really highlights the achievement.”
Rural Health Education Foundation CEO Don Perlgut said the Foundation was delighted that Recovery from Trauma: What Works had been formally recognised as a world class health documentary.
He says: “Coupled with the finalist status achieved by the Foundation’s Drinking for Two? program at last year’s FREDDIE awards, this category win emphasises the fact that we are producing world class quality educational content on a consistent basis.”
About the FREDDIE awards
Now in their 35th year, the International Health and Medical Media Awards, known as the FREDDIEs, are designed to encourage and celebrate excellence in health and medical documentaries, DVDs, websites and CD-ROMs from around the world.
The other finalists in the Psychiatry category this year were US-produced programs about bipolar disorder and teen suicide prevention.
About the award-winning program
Recovery from Trauma: What Works was produced to help people who have experienced a traumatic event, or who are close to someone who has, to better understand the signs and symptoms they may be experiencing and assist them and their family to make more informed decisions about the most appropriate treatment and care.
The program includes information and advice on the most effective treatments for problems following trauma and the best way to help someone in the first few days and weeks after a traumatic event.
Recovery from Trauma: What Works, which forms part of the Foundation’s Posttraumatic Stress Disorder project, was produced in association with the ACPMH, with funding from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. The program was directed by Joanne Levitan and co-produced by Rod Freedman, both from Change Focus Media, a Sydney-based video production company.
Twelve thousand copies of the program have already been distributed on DVD.
Ordering the program
Recovery from Trauma: What Works is available to order free from the Foundation thanks to generous funding from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. Orders can be made through the program page or by contacting the Foundation on tel (02) 6232 5480 or via email at rhef@rhef.com.au.