Herald reporter awarded for ‘compelling’ mental health story

SEATTLE — Daily Herald reporter Diana Hefley received the 2015 Award for Excellence in Coverage of Mental Health and Suicide at a ceremony held Nov. 18.

The award is sponsored by Forefront: Innovations in Suicide Prevention, a nonprofit, and the University of Washington Department of Communication journalism program.

The annual award honors Washington State journalism that improves the public’s understanding of suicide prevention, behavioral illnesses, treatment, recovery, public policy and related topics.

Hefley received the award for a story about 69-year-old Carolyn Hetherwick Goza, who leads an Everett support group for parents with children who have a mental illness.

The contest judges praised Hefley for writing a compelling and empowering story that speaks to anyone who knows a person dealing with a mental illness.

Hefley, a Snohomish native, joined The Herald in 2002.

She covers courts and criminal justice with a special interest in mental health, and is a 2015 reporting fellow for John Jay College of Criminal Justice’s Center on Media, Crime and Justice, and the Langeloth Foundation.

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