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A four-part documentary series made by South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has scooped a “BAFTA” television award.
The documentary series was called “Bedlam”, in reference to the historical nickname of the trust’s Bethlem Royal Hospital – the world’s oldest psychiatric institution.
It was made in conjunction with Channel 4 and Garden Production, who described it as “challenging the myths, taboos and stigma around mental illness in Britain today”.
“We took part to help raise awareness of mental illness”
Matthew Patrick
The series won the “Best Factual Series” category last night at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards in London.
Trust chief executive Matthew Patrick said: “Bedlam was a pioneering series which was sensitively made and reflects the realities of living with mental illness.
“We took part to help raise awareness of mental illness and from the public reaction so far, we have gone some way to achieving that,” he added.
Mr Patrick also said he was “honoured” the trust was a part of the documentary and thanked patients and staff for their “time, dedication and commitment” to the series.
Bedlam was the result of a two-year project, and the four 60-minute programmes were broadcast between October and November 2013.
The first programme of the four-part series, Anxiety, followed patients through Bethlem Royal Hospital’s 18-bed Anxiety and Disorders Residential Unit.
The second programme was called Crisis, with cameras allowed into Lambeth Hospital’s Triage ward for the first time. Both programmes attracted around two millions viewers each.
The third programme, Psychosis, filmed a community mental health team, and the fourth, Breakdown, focused on older adults. The second two programmes attracted 1.5 million viewers.
Competing for the same award were Educating Yorkshire, Keeping Britain Alive and The Route Masters: Running London’s Roads.
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