A series of articles on the tragic deaths of patients at a Sunderland hospital has won a Sunderland Echo writer the runner-up spot at the MIND Journalist of the Year Awards.

The awards, organised by mental health charity MIND, highlight some of the best – and some of the worst – writing on the subject from the past year.

Deputy news editor John Howe wrote about the deaths of 11 vulnerable patients at Cherry Knowle Hospital and covered the publication of a report from an inquiry triggered after the Echo revealed claims of abuse and neglect surrounding two patients there.

Sophie Goodchild, Home Affairs Correspondent at the Independent on Sunday, won the Mind Journalist of the Year Award for her reporting which led the paper’s mental health campaign last year.

David Mellor, columnist at the Sunday People, has won the Bigot of the Year Award for the second time for his “Man of the People” column headed Yes, lock them away BEFORE they strike.

These awards were judged by previous winners of the Journalist of the Year Award, Sarah Boseley of The Guardian, Adam James, and Roger Dobson.

The judges also gave a special commendation to Emma Morton for her article in the health pages of The Sun, which looked at the often mis-reported issue of personality disorders.

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