THANK you, you heroes!That is the messages today to the dedicated, caring and talented staff at Suffolk Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust who work so hard to tackle mental health problems in the county.

THANK you, you heroes!

That is the messages today to the dedicated, caring and talented staff at Suffolk Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust who work so hard to tackle mental health problems in the county.

At the trust's awards evening on Thursday dozens of employees who went the extra mile to help people with mental ill health were rewarded for their efforts.

The event at Ipswich's Novotel hotel saw colleagues cheer and clap loudly as the smiling winners and nominees enjoyed well-deserved glory after a year of hard work.

During the evening guests heard stories of amazing perseverance against the odds and tremendous kindness to help people in need.

The trust's chairman, Hugh Davies, said: “These awards are designed to celebrate everything which is great about our staff and to recognise the sterling efforts they put in, day after day, which make our services great.

“In many cases, so many people could have been the overall winner in the category in which they were nominated, but at the end of the day we could only pick one.”

Would you like to praise a health worker? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.

Richard Stanley - Improving Working Lives winner

“Richard Stanley, who is based at St Clement's Hospital in Ipswich, goes far beyond the traditional role of a graphic designer. With his exceptional contribution to the trust's 'If you only knew...' anti-stigma campaign, he put his heart, soul and a great deal of his own time into the project.”

Richard Young - partnership working winner

“A compassionate and committed mental health practitioner, Dr Richard Young was employed by the trust as lead psychologist up until his retirement in 2003.”

The Early Intervention Team - innovation winner

“The early intervention into psychosis team, covering the whole county but based in Stowmarket, have met their planning strategy after it was brought forward from three years to just one year.

James Woolnough - making a difference winner

“Always striving for perfection James Woolnough has always been there for the team, in both his role as Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) officer and his role in supporting the Foundation Trust project.

Marian Stevens Farrow - team leader winner

“A great sense of humour and a work-hard play-hard philosophy on life” is how Marian Stevens-Farrow's colleagues describe her in her role as service manager to the community services team.

All nominees

Maureen Parnell

Number seven Airey Close home team

Mental health directorate admin team

Junction day programme team

Number four Allington Smith Close team

Nicola Housden

Gwen Steward

Costal admin team

Julie Bromley

Diane Mongan

The Richmond Fellowship team

Dr Denise Herron

Dr Laura Head

Graham Abbott

Margaret Little and Karen Clements

Helen Whight