SocietyGuardian columnist and author Clare Allan is among those shortlisted for this year's Mind journalist of the year award which recognises excellence in reporting of mental health issues.

The mental health charity Mind, which hosts the awards, said competition had been fierce with a high number of entries resulting in a shortlist twice as long as last year.

The judges said: "Clare Allan's regular columns provide a diverse mix of personal experience and thorough research to highlight the injustice and misunderstandings in the way that government and society think about mental health."

Observer writers Carole Cadwalladr and Amelia Hill are also among those shortlisted.

The judges said: "Amelia Hill's detailed investigative work brings to light failings in the mental health system." They referred to Carole Cadwalladr's thought provoking articles as "exploring the uneasy relationship between the media and mental health".

Mind's head of media, Claire Ashby, said: "In the year that has seen the launch of the Time to Change anti-stigma campaign, it has been highly encouraging to see the media follow suit with an increase in sensitive and informed coverage of mental health issues."

The awards will be part of annual Mind week on 9 May which this year is focusing on men and mental health. The week will see the launch of Mind's Get It Off Your Chest campaign in light of research comparing the way men and women cope with emotional problems.

The winner of the award will be announced at the ceremony to be hosted by Mind president Melvyn Bragg on 14 May. The winners of student journalist of the year, book of the year and champion of the year will also be unveiled.

Others shortlisted for the journalist award include Patrick Cockburn from the Independent, Nina Lakhani from the Independent on Sunday, Hannah Ebelthite from Top Sante, Daisy Greenwell from the Big Issue, Eleanor Harding from the Wandsworth Guardian and associated local press, Jenny Hope and Daniel Martin from the Daily Mail, Caroline Jones from the Daily Mirror and Toby Wiseman from Men's Health.

Last year's Mind journalist of the year award went to SocietyGuardian's Mary O'Hara, who is also a member of the judging panel for this year's award.

Mind's student journalist of the year recognises excellent mental health reporting in student publications. Nicola Byron from The University of Nottingham and Jennifer Nash from the University of East London have been short listed for the award.