An Ealing blogger has won a major award for her efforts to help people with mental health issues.

Charlotte Walker, 39, better known as Bipolar Blogger, beat the likes of Channel 4 to claim the prestigious Mark Hanson Digital Media Award on Monday night at the Mind Digital Media Awards in central London.

She received the honour for her blog about living with bipolar disorder, entitled Purple Persuasion, in which she shares her experiences of daily life with the condition.

The site has followers around the world and has become a source of inspiration for people with mental health issues. A prolific presence on Twitter, Ms Walker regularly works around London to break down stereotypes and portray the topic in a sensitive and dignified light.

The mother of two said: “I know everyone says they didn’t expect to win, but I honestly didn’t. When my name was read out I was on my feet before I knew it and I have no memory of how I got to the stage or what I said while I was up there.

“I hope I managed to get across the fact the feedback I get from readers is why I carry on. Every day people contact me to let me know that as a result of reading my blog, they feel less alone. And that means the world to me.”

Ms Walker added she plans to carry on blogging but is also close to finishing a memoir about growing up with undiagnosed bipolar disorder, and is in the process of finding a publisher.

She said: “I hope that once the book is published it will reach people who don’t have access to digital media sources. Sometimes just knowing that someone’s been through a similar experience makes living with mental illness that little bit more bearable.”

Follow her on Twitter @BipolarBlogger or visit her blog at purplepersuasion.wordpress.com to find out more.