‘The Oprah Winfrey entertainment factor didn’t cut it – her courage did!’

Dec. 13, 2010 - PRLog -- Oprah Winfrey has been named as the recipient of the International Awareness Award, one of six awards to honour work undertaken in the area of mental health.  This inaugural award is presented to an individual who has dedicated a major part of their life to raising awareness for the risk factors associated with Psychological Complex Trauma and through their efforts has made a major difference in the lives of others.

The category awarded to Ms Winfrey recognizes the achievements of individuals or organisations that, on a global scale, raise awareness, conduct research or provide education to assist alleviate the burden caused by repeated traumatic events.

“The Oprah Winfrey factor is not just about hype and entertainment, the role she has undertaken in educating the world to the risk factors associated with psychological complex trauma has provided the general population with an awareness of the impact that adverse life events can have on the long term health and wellbeing of an individual” said the Miracles Australia Inc Awards organizer  “Oprah, by having the courage to talk openly with others about experiences such as sexual abuse, discrimination, violence, bullying, harassment and neglect,  has  provided a platform for those individuals who have been exposed to multiple traumas, to come out of the dark and seek services that target the cause and not merely maintain the symptoms”.

Also receiving awards is Canberra Based TransACT  CEO Ivan Slavich and staff wellbeing pioneer Sir Richard Branson.  The 2010 awards will be presented at a luncheon to be held in Canberra in June 2011 and the names of all six recipients can be found at www.miracles.net.au . For further information contact Miracles Australia Awards spokesperson on 0409 110051.

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Miracles Australia Inc. is a not for profit organisation dedicated to working with professionals and individuals from around the world to promote awareness, facilitate research and provide training to reduce the incidence of psychological complex trauma. The International Awareness Awards form part of the mental health awareness strategy 2010-2015