'EastEnders' takes top mental health honours

BBC soap EastEnders took top honours at last night's Mental Health Media awards for its portrayal of Stacey Slater's bipolar disorder.

Actress Lacey Turner - who plays Stacey - collected Mind's 'Making A Difference' trophy with her screen mother Gillian Wright (Jean Slater) for the show's "continued commitment to tackling mental health storylines in a sensitive and realistic way".

It was also noted by the mental health charity that EastEnders' "innovative and inspirational portrayals of mental distress have led to genuine impact".

EastEnders' executive producer Diederick Santer this afternoon told DS: "We've won many, many awards, gongs and trinkets in recent years, but to be told by the charity Mind, who are behind these awards, that we are making a difference is an accolade that all of us who work on the show can truly be proud of."

Earlier this year, Stacey Slater began showing signs of her bipolar condition following the death of her best friend Danielle Jones (Lauren Crace).

Mind's annual Mental Health Media awards were held at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in London last night.

Welsh soap Pobol y Cwm won the 'Soaps and Continual TV Drama' award for its portrayal of single mum Nesta's (Catrin Mara) battle with post-natal depression.