Essex Chronicle reporter Anne Fitzgerald has been highly commended in an awards scheme celebrating mental health journalism.

Anne just missed out on being crowned Mind’s journalist of the year to Guardian social affairs correspondent Mary O’Hara.

She was shortlisted alongside journalists from the Independent on Sunday and Observer as well as reporters from the Bexley Extra and Express and Echo, in Exeter.

Her article Peace of Mind was praised by judges as “an inspiring project, drawing together key mental health issues combined with sensitive reporting. She makes the issues personal, accessible and informative”.

The judging panel including last year’s joint winners Derek Draper, from Psychologies magazine, and the Independent on Sunday’s Dr Cecilia d’Felice as well as Mind’s chief executive Paul Farmer.

The charity’s president Melvyn Bragg presented the awards at a special ceremony in London.

The other winners were:

Student Journalist of the Year
Huw Davies, Cardiff University

Mind Book of the Year
The Father I Had by Sunday Express editor Martin Townsend

Mind Champion of the Year
Dr Liz Miller for continuing work in the field of mental health