World staffers honored for series

Nov. 6, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Three Tulsa World staff members were honored Thursday with the Mental Health Association in Tulsa's 2009 Communication Award at the group's annual awards ceremony.

Omer Gillham, Deon J. Hampton and Adam Wisneski were recognized for their work on "Suicide: Hidden Epidemic," a three-day series that appeared Oct. 4-6 in the World and also featured online multimedia content.

The articles revealed that Oklahoma's suicide rate is twice the rate of homicides. Additionally, the articles showed a 12 percent increase in suicides since 2004. The series also told the stories of several families and individuals whose lives were affected by suicide.

"The Tulsa World is to be commended for the incredible resources it has dedicated to bringing the issues surrounding suicide to the attention of our community," said Michael Brose, executive director of the Mental Health Association in Tulsa.

"The powerful words and images that were a part of this series tell a story too important to shy away from, and with the ability to not just transform, but to save lives."

The awards ceremony was hosted by the Laureate Psychiatric Clinic and Hospital.

Gillham was hired by the World in 1998. Before being named to the investigative team in 2003, he was a general assignment reporter and higher education reporter. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1991 with a bachelor's degree in journalism.

Hampton is a general assignment reporter. Before joining the World in 2007, he was a reporter for the Denver Weekly News and the Fort Collins Coloradoan. He graduated from Langston University in 2004.

Wisneski graduated from the University of Missouri in 2007 with a degree in photojournalism and Spanish. He later completed internships at the Tulsa World, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

He worked as a freelance photographer until April, when he was hired by the World as the multimedia production technician. He produces video content and photos for tulsaworld.com.

OTHER MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION IN TULSA HONOREES:

The Mental Health Association in Tulsa also gave out the following awards at its ceremony Thursday night:

Community Advocates for Group Homes

Education Award: Oklahoma Department of Mental Health Substance Abuse Services Human Resource Development Department

Legislator of the year Award: Rep. Harold Wright

William Packard Housing Award: YMCA of Greater Tulsa

Legal Outreach and Coordination Award: Sherri Carrier

Mental Health Assistance Center/BrightSky Award: Pat Fike

Recovery Center Award: Mia Fleming

Gail Z. Richards Resource Development Award: Yale Avenue Christian Church

Youth Outreach Services Award: Conecciones

2009 Kathy Zarrow Achievement Awards: Felicia Fagan; Mark Harris; Elizabeth Krier; Martella Subana

Community Collaboration Awards: All Souls Unitarian Church; Assistance League of Tulsa; B'Nai Emunah Synagogue; Belview Baptist Church; Boston Avenue United Methodist Church; Braden Park Baptist Church; Camp Loughridge; Carbondale Assembly of God; Edison Media Class; First Baptist Church Tulsa; First Presbyterian Church; First United Methodist Church; Joy Friend; Grace Lutheran Church; Greater Cornerstone Community Development Project; Highland Park Christian Church; In The Spirit Christian Church; John 3:16 Mission; Lutheran Church of Our Savior; Memorial Drive Church of Christ; New Heart Fellowship; Tulsa Ballet; Saint John's Episcopal Church; St. Peter Baptist Church; Yale Avenue Christian Church.

John Horeth II outstanding Service Awards: Joe Carner; Angela Chada; Mike Clark; Tim Finley; Lisa Gardiner; Tom McCune; Kevin McLeroy; Janet Norman; Oakridge Builders

Newstex ID: KRTB-0205-39501335