And so, after much voting, the results are in for our informal poll of the best of mental health blogging.
Just a quick explanation on how I’ve calculated the votes. Some people have either nominated multiple blogs or said, “I’m nominating x but I also like y and z.” I’ve decided to include all those blogs mentioned as nominations.
Those who’ve been awarded first place are entitled to make use of this graphic. There is also a runners-up graphic here, for the use of those awarded second or third place. To receive a second or third place, a blog must have received a minimum of three nominations. Any less than that, and runner-up prizes won’t be awarded.
And so, the winners and runners-up are…
Best Mood Disorder Blog
This crowded field emerged with a joint winner. The perenially-popular Mentally Interesting: The Secret Life of a Manic Depressive tied for first place with a new but strong contender, Mad Sad Girl. Mentally Interesting’s blog has gone from strength to strength this year, and was adapted into the award-winning Radio 4 play Dos and Don’ts for the Mentally Interesting. Meanwhile Mad Sad Girl deserves praise for her insightful Tackling the Mental Health Minefield series.
In second place was the always-outspoken Aethelred the Unread. Joint third place goes to Into the System and Absymal Musings.
Best Eating Disorder Blog
Marine Snow was a near-unanimous winner in this category. Her blend of eloquence, humour and raw honesty has ensured the continuing popularity of her blog.
Best Autistic Spectrum Disorder Blog
The New Republic‘s unique and quirky view of the world makes him the winner of Best ASD blog.
Best Adolescent User Blog
Another joint winner, with Teenage Misanthropy and Eccedentesiast tying for first place. I hadn’t come across Eccedentesiast’s blog before, but it’ll now be on my blogroll for future TWIM editions.
Best Personality Disorder Blog
Genius Gone Wrong‘s account of juggling college studies with her mental health difficulties have won her first place among the PD blogs. Second prize goes to Becoming Hannah, while Confessions of a Serial Insomniac and Writing in the Margins of My Mind receive joint third place.
Some of my favourite MH blogs are in this category. However, I note that the author of the CBTish blog has claimed to be amused by our inclusion of a Best PD Blog category because, “In general, any personality disorder disables you in a very serious way that makes it impossible for you to be a blogger.” On the basis of the writing in these blogs, I’d say that suggestion is self-evident nonsense.
Best Mental Health Professional Blog
Frontier Psychiatrist takes first place. I’ve particularly enjoyed his series on psychiatric eponyms. In second place is the Masked AMHP, another blog that I haven’t come across before, but will make a point of adding to my RSS feed. A few votes were also awarded to us, which is very kind of those involved, but I don’t feel we can really give a prize to ourselves.
Best Student Blog
Not Another Nursing Student won this category by a large margin, not least for her wonderfully entertaining A to Z of secure mental health services. She’s only up to K at the moment, so hopefully there’s plenty more to come of this.
Best Carer Blog
The near-unanimous winner was Schizophrenia – A Carer’s Journal, an emotional ride through the fears and frustrations of having a son on a forensic ward.
Best Mental Health Cartoon Blog
The joint winners were Prozacville‘s adventures of a walking, talking prozac pill, and Darryl Cunningham/Tall Guy Writes for his upcoming Psychiatric Tales book. Cartoon blogs were a new discovery for me in 2009, and I’ve enjoyed them immensely.
Most Sadly-Missed Blog
A clear majority of you missed Coloured Mind and Scattered Thoughts, who bowed out in August. If anybody knows how to contact her, please pass on our congratulations and appreciation.
I’ll conclude with a couple of honourable mentions for blogs that have impressed me in 2009 but didn’t make the winners list. Fighting Monsters is one of the most informed and insightful blogs by a mental health professional that I’ve come across. I’ve also enjoyed the cartoons on My Medicated Cartoon Life, and Neuroskeptic deserves praise for crunching the numbers and doing the maths, so we don’t have to.
I’d like to thank my mum and my dad and…
Thankyou, really made my day/year/decade x
I’m totally honoured to have even got a nomination let alone a runner’s up place. Especially in the mood disorder category which is incredibly strong.
Also – I’ve sent a message to miss colouredmind. She’s on holiday at the moment though. xx
*blushes madly*
Um…a huge thank you to everyone who voted for me, although I can’t help but feel like a fraud since much of the blog is just me bitching about stuff and has very little to do with mental health! A very nice start to the new year though
Fingers crossed I’ll be eligible for a Best Mental Health Professional nomination this time next year…
Cheque’s in the Post.
It’s a bit tackey to admit this, however, this post made me cry. Thank you so much, and congratulations to everybody! Happy New Year To You All x
Lola x
♫♪ HAPPY♪♫•*¨•.¸.•*•♫♪ NEW♪♫•*¨•.¸.•*¨• ♪YEAR♪♫•*¨*•.♪♫•*¨*2010*¨*•♫♪ •*¨*•♫♪ HAPPY♪♫•*¨•.¸.•**•♫♪ NEW♪♫•*¨•.¸.•*¨•♪YEAR♪♫
Thank you. I don’t know what to say.
Wow. Stunned to even have received a nomination nevermind getting a place. Thank you so very much. I’m very moved.
Some really wonderful blogs – well done to all! thank you for putting together the weekly round-ups that have allowed me to discover the wealth of writing and thanks for your very kind words about my own efforts
This really means a lot to me. I’m a massive fan of Mr Cunningham’s work too. Thanks.
Thank you very much, I am honoured to come first! I had to laugh at CBTish comments myself, I almost said something but was having a good day and decided to back away from the laptop! Lol
Congratulations to all the other winners as well, it’s a pleasure to share this award with everyone else and anyone who writes a blog about anything mental health related all help reduce the stigma towards mental health so everyone deserves a pat on the back!
I dont know if it’s right for me to feel hurt by CBTish’s comments – but I do. very much so
(
I dont know if it’s right for me to feel hurt by CBTish’s comments – but I do. very much so.
I actually had mental images of CBTwaddle storming the podium, Kanye West-style, and exclaiming, “I’m really happy for you, and imma let you finish, but people with personality disorders can’t be bloggers!”
I read the comment but disregarded it entirely as I thought my brane had stopped working when the words stopped making sense.
I would have thought after spending so much time on the BBC Speak Your Branes site you’d be more than used to that particular psychological effect by now.
I thought that after spending so much time reading Mental Nurse comments I would be immune!
Congrats all! You all have fantastically fantastic blogs. I aspire to be fantastic one day, and categorically relevant.
Coo!
I read your blog jessa and can safely say you don’t need to aspire to be fantastic, you already are very talented.
Than I shall aspire to categorical relevancy. I haven’t decided yet whether that will mean being more relevant to one of the already existing categories or bending Z’s will to my own to add a category to which I can be relevant without changing the sorts of things I write.
Thank you for the recognition of my blog. it’s nice to know people read it.
I love your blog.
Me too :>
Thank you! I am by turns flattered and aroused. And HOORAY for everybody else! I love the Madosphere. xxx
Thanks for the gong, Mental Nurses. In return, I offer you the first annual Neuroskeptic Taste in Blogs Award… hang on, you only gave me an “honourable mention”. You get an honourable mention too. Better luck next year.
Thank you so much for the award – I don’t know how to express how much it means to me to be recognised in this way – so ‘thank you from the bottom of my heart’ will have to suffice I’m afraid.
Hann xox
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