1 January 2013 
Good morning, everyone, and may I take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you a very happy and peaceful 2013. For those that struggled in 2012, I hope this year will be a better one for you. For those who did reasonably well in the 12 months past, may that long continue.
So, after dozens of nominations, the appointment of a panel of judges and a shortlist delivered to them, we finally present to our readers the winners of the 2012 This Week in Mentalists awards.
Congratulations to everyone who made it to the shortlist. Our judges have acknowledged that there was fierce competition throughout the categories, and as such you can all be very proud of yourselves.
Without further ado…
Best Mood Disorder Blog
Just Me, Nobody Else, My Crazy Bipolar Life and Purple Persuasion were up for this category.
The judges had this to say of the winner:
“I found her detailed descriptions of the different tools and techniques she uses to combat her symptoms not only very interesting to read, but also very helpful.”
“…it’s a way of promoting understanding acceptance and education. I learnt a lot from reading this.”
Our winner is…
Purple Persuasion
Big congratulations to author Charlotte (@bipolarblogger) for writing the winning entry in this category.
Best Psychosis Blog
This category’s shortlist consisted of A Path With Heart, All the Avenues Look Ugly and But You Don’t Look Jewish!
Some of the judges’ comments on the winning entry were:
“[I] enjoyed how the writer weaves social comment with personal experience.”
“…good at describing the visceral experience of psychosis…[it] snapshots time and experiences with precision.”
The award goes to…
A Path With Heart
Very well done to APWH‘s writer, Werehorse (@were_horse) on her success here. This is her second consecutive win in this category 
Best Eating Disorder Blog
In the ED category, the judges had the challenge of choosing between Giant Fossilized Armadillo, Falling Short of Perfection and Thee Truth Is.
They had this to say of the victor:
“[really enjoyable] mix of writing, art and photography. A nice balance of information, humour and diary.”
“…[a] strong personal voice meets a very strong intellectual exploration of the territory of a life lived.”
Our winner is…
Giant Fossilized Armadillo
This is Katie (@no_ghost)’s blog – very well done, Katie, on your win! She was runner-up in the ED category last year.
Best Personality Disorder Blog
Beauty from Pain Blog, Confused and Bewildered and The Quiet Borderline made up the shortlist for the PD category.
The winning entry received these comments from judges:
“well-written; both recovery, hopeful pieces as well those in the darkest places.”
“[the author focuses on] helping others, being useful, raising awareness and [has] a fantastic load of resources.”
The award goes to…
Beauty from Pain Blog
A big round of applause for Amanda (@amanda_stand) for her victory here
Best Anxiety, Stress or Trauma Blog
In this category, the shortlist consisted of Chaos and Control, Conversations With My Head and Crazy in the Coconut. Can you say ‘alliteration’, readers? 
Here’s what a few of our judges had to say about this category’s winner:
“It’s compelling, it’s frightening, it’s personal, it’s real…this is the work of a really intelligent writer, unafraid to talk about issues most couldn’t begin to make sense of.”
“Eloquent, approachable but covering harrowing territory, [this] blog charts difficult waters with a kind of gentle fierceness.”
Our winner is…
Conversations With My Head
Written by bourach (@bourach), CWMH gets our congratulations for its success here The blog was also runner-up in its category in both 2010 and 2011.
Best Autistic Spectrum Disorder Blog
Aspergers and the Alien, Dannilion and The Cupboard of my Soul were shortlisted in the ASD category.
Our judges commented on the winning entry as follows:
“I learnt a lot from this blog that I didn’t know about autism. I found it very honest and self-reflective. I liked the mix of photos and text.”
“…[it] explores the quirks without being quirky itself.”
The award goes to…
Aspergers and the Alien
A big hand to author Amy on her win here!
Best Psychiatry, Psychology or Psychotherapy Blog
Our shortlist here was 1 Boring Old Man, Mind Hacks and Therapy Tales.
The winning entry garnered these comments from judges:
“…accessible, fun but serious, well-crafted.”
“…[a] diverse mix of subject matter for the posts on this blog. It is also accessible to a general audience in terms of writing style.”
Our winner is…
Mind Hacks
Well done to Tom (@tomstafford) and Vaughan (@vaughanbell) of @mindhacksblog for their success! Mind Hacks was joint winner of its category last year too.
Best Nursing, Social Work or Professions Allied to Medicine Blog
Here we had ClaireOT’s Blog, The Masked AMHP and You Know You’re Borderline When… in the shortlist.
“…the irreverent style and use of humour are fantastically woven together with insights into the working life of [a mental health professional].”
“Unique in the blogosphere.”
The award goes to…
The Masked AMHP
A round of applause for the masked AMHP, please Perhaps our respect is particularly owed to him (her?) because this is his fourth consecutive year as the winner of his category in the This Week in Mentalists awards. A remarkable achievement!
Best Student or Academic Blog
Here, the shortlist consisted of PD2OT, The Small Places and The World of OiD.
Here’s some of what the judges had to say about the winner:
“Loved it. Refreshing, honest, intelligent, personal and considered…I would want him to treat me. I thought this was the work of someone who was genuinely going to put patents first.”
“Engaging and warm.”
Our winner is…
The World of OiD
Huge congratulations to author OiD (@0iD) for winning this category
Best Mental Health Not Otherwise Specified Blog
This is our category for blogs that don’t comfortably ‘fit’ in one of the other areas. Its shortlist was Diary of a Benefit Scrounger, Julie’sMum and MentalHealthCop.
Commenting on the winning blog, judges said:
“A unique mix of professional resource, help for people using services and polemic.”
“…[the author is] articulate, intelligent, personable, well-researched and more importantly doing everything he can to empathise.”
The award goes to…
MentalHealthCop
Very well done to Michael Brown (@mentalhealthcop) for taking this category He was runner-up in the ‘Best New Blog’ category last year – and, on a bigger scale, he was this year’s recipient of the Mark Hanson Award for Digital Media from mental health charity Mind.
The Mental Health Wildcard Award
This award is a bit different. It goes to one of the shortlisted blogs that didn’t win its category, but that the judges still really liked. As such, everyone listed above – apart from the winners – were ripe for choosing for this award.
Judges commented as follows on the wildcard victor:
“…accessible writing style with appealing use of humour. Very reflective…the mix of comment on services is very effective.”
“Great characterisation.”
Our winner is…
Chaos and Control
Very well done to writer LittleFeet (@chaosandcontrol) for scooping this award! She also won last year’s ‘Trauma’ category.
And that’s it for another year!
So, you’re a winner or a short-listed entry if you’re listed here. Apart from kudos, what does that get you?
A shiny thing, of course!
For winning authors whose blog theme is light, click here for your award graphic.
For winning authors whose blog theme is dark, click here for yours.
For shortlisted authors whose blog theme is light, click here for your award graphic.
For shortlisted authors whose blog theme is dark, click here for yours.
May I just say: whilst our winners should get a very justified round of applause, those shortlisted should not in any way feel disheartened. The judges have stated that the choices were very difficult, and everyone thinks you’re all amazing
And that ends the This Week in Mentalists awards for another year. Thank you for all your participation and enthusiasm. Once again, Z and I would especially like to thank the judging panel for giving up so much of their free time for this competition – it has been really, really appreciated.
Most of all, thank you to those of you that write about mental health. In our own little way, we’re making a difference in doing this.
Mega congratulations to everyone shortlisted and especially to our winners.
Happy 2013. Be safe and happy. xxx
Congratulations to all the winners and all those shortlisted. It’s been a massive year for Mental Health news and writing, Let’s hope that 2013 has a more positive slant..
As co-adjudicator with Pandora, I’d like to give my most heartfelt thanks to all those who nominated and in particular to our judging panel for making these awards happen.
Congratulations to the winners and runners-up.
Thank you so much. It was a genuine honour to be a shortlisted and an even greater one, and surprise, to win especially since the field was so full of excellent writing.
I feel like I’m at the Oscars. I’d like to thank my hamster, my teapot and the little old lady who lives down the road.
Thank you so much and I hope next year has lots of happy, shiny things in it for people to write about.
As a bit of feedback on the judging process, the only category that the adjudicators (i.e. me and Pandora) had to cast a deciding vote on was the Anxiety category, between Conversations with my Head and Chaos and Control. We really agonised over that as we love both those blogs, but on a whisker gave it to Conversations with my Head. Therefore we were very happy when the judging panel gave the wildcard to Chaos and Control.
only 2 judges?
No no, there were 7 judges, though one was unable to get his votes in time (but did participate in the wildcard vote). Me and Pan were acting as adjudicators in case a deciding vote was needed after the judges votes.
Well, that’s good. Things keep changing around here. It’s making me dizzy. Or maybe it’s my dizziness that’s making me feel like everything’s changing.
kisses.
The list of judges can be found here
Haven’t seen you for ages, Louise – hope you’re keeping (at least relatively) well
I miss you.
Many congratulations to the winners and thanks to the judges. A wonderful collection of writing and constantly learn so much from all.
Congratulations to all the winners, and to those also shortlisted. I’m sure this was a very hard decision. Many of my favourites are up there and I’ve got a few new blogs to add to my reader
I was surprised to be nominated, as my blog isn’t an autism blog exactly, more an ME/CFS blog with some autistic sprinkles. It made me very happy, but I’m also happy that the award went to a blog more about the subject
Thank you, and penguins for all! (“)>
Likewise, huge congrats to all, and equally huge thanks to the judges & organisers: well done all!
As I just said (squealed) on twitter, I didn’t even realise I’d been nominated! I was feeling bad for having neglected my blog/others blogs/TWIM etc yesterday and wondering if I should pack blogging in entirely, so this is wonderful news and great motivation to start writing more regularly again
thank you peoples!
Thank you very much for my award. It really is appreciated. And thank you to the judges for your comments. And by the way, I am a he!
Congrats everyone!!
Congratulations!! You should be very proud of yourself, and you really deserve this award! You are such a kindhearted and lovely person! So happy for you – such a good start to 2013! xx
Congrats! Happy New Year!!
Congratulations to everyone! It’s a great way to learn about new blogs!
Congrats to all the winners! I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been for the judges as there really were some incredible blogs nominated!
And thank you to all those who found my blog on here and visited. I was really honored to be nominated and love writing this blog.
As a member of the masked AMHP Facebook group i would like to congratulate not only the masked AMHP himself but also the mental health cop!
Congrats you deserve it!
Congratulations to everyone & now I have some new blogs to read! Yay!
i didn’t even know