The Mental Health Awards
There are a few things to take into consideration when applying to The Mental Health Awards these points will assist you to strength your application.
- Before completing your application ensure you understand the category for which you are applying to. Referring to this throughout your application will help meet the category’s requirements. Use this information as a basic outline for your application. Ensure any evidence included within your application is in reference to the appropriate category.
Innovative Mental Health Intervention.
This category celebrates innovative and successful interventions for those experiencing mental health difficulties at any age. It is expected that entries include at least two years’ worth of outcome data. The intervention should be based on sound principles of mental health interventions, clinical advice or research, whilst also evidencing how it is innovative.
Innovative Proactive Well-being Activity.
This category is designed to celebrate innovative well-being interventions or activities that have had a positive impact over at least two years.
Long-Term Impact (Open to Reactive or Proactive Interventions).
The long-term category is open to both mental health and well-being interventions that can evidence a positive impact over at least five years.
The lifestyle Award (Evidence of Lifestyle Change in a Population).
This category is aimed at celebrating mental health and well-being interventions that have sought to embed behaviour change in a population over time. Entries are expected to evidence how they have changed lifestyle choices as a result of their work.
Support during the pandemic.
The pandemic has had a massive impact on the mental health of the general public, in addition to how services continue to operate. This category will celebrate those who have continued to make a difference to their service services and found innovative ways of providing or growing services.
Outstanding Contribution to the Mental Health and Wellbeing Sector.
The outstanding contribution category is designed to celebrate an individual or team who have contributed significantly to the mental health and well-being sector. This category is not designed to celebrate long service, but recognise those who had a positive impact in the field.
Inspirational Story.
This category is designed to celebrate the service users or clients who have overcome overwhelming challenges to tackle their mental health or well-being, or those whose lives have been affected by the mental health of others. Entries can be nominated by professionals, families or friends and must include several viewpoints.
2. Giving context to your application regarding your nominee is important. This should be done in the ‘introductory’ space at the beginning of the application. Supporting statements about the nominee should be included within this section. Beyond this point, the application should be primarily focussed on the chosen category and what the nominee has in place to support this.
3. Including information and supporting statements about the efforts of your nominee and ways in which they go ‘above and beyond’ in the chosen category. Providing information about what motivates your nominee to go ‘above and beyond’ also provides context.
4. Providing evidence of any outcomes from your nominees’ work is a great way to add supporting information about how your approach to a cause is having an effect.
Evidence can include (but is not limited to):
- Statements or testimonies from people
- Statistical evidence with information which measures change
- Evidence of goals or targets reached
- Discussing future aspirations to expand the focus of the nominee is also important
You are strengthening the application by ensuring you are outlining the impact and outcomes of your efforts.
Tips:
- Prepare a comprehensive list of your accomplishments: Gather all the relevant information about your qualifications, experiences, and awards you have received.
- Craft a persuasive narrative: Use your list of accomplishments to create a compelling narrative that highlights why you are the best candidate for the award.
- Demonstrate your commitment to the field: Show that you have a passion for the field you are applying for and make sure to demonstrate your commitment and dedication.
- Be sure to proofread your application before submitting it.
- Follow up with the organisation offering the award, if appropriate, to ensure your application has been received.
- Write a statement of purpose that outlines why you are applying for the award and how it will help you.
Good Luck! We look forward to hearing from you!
