Calling all Creative Changemakers: It's Time to #CreateConnectCare!

1|Choose a focus area:

Awareness

Mental health is just as important as physical health but is often misunderstood or ignored.

• Use your creativity to raise awareness of mental health by describing your experiences.
• Think about… how it feels to live as a person with mental health struggles. What it's like to care for someone who has a mental health challenge.  What causes you stress, anxiety, or your mental health struggles?

Stigma

Stigma, prejudice,  and discrimination against people with mental illness take many forms and can lead to harm.

• Use your creativity to start the conversation about stigma.
• Think about… how stigma has affected you or someone you know. What can others do to help break the stigma?

Connection

Studies show that connecting with others can alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression.

• Use your creativity…to express how connecting with your peers or the larger community has positively impacted your mental health.
• Think about it…How do you connect with others? How has the help of your peers, teachers, parents, or healthcare providers improved your mental well-being?

Self-care

Self-care can play a role in maintaining your mental health and help support your treatment and recovery if you have a mental illness.

Use your creativity to explore what self-care means to you. 

Think about it…How do you take care of your physical, mental, and emotional health How do these activities help you feel better?

Sports and Mental Well-being

While sports offer joy, connection, confidence, and stress-busting endorphins, they can also fuel anxiety, perfectionism, and body image issues. 

Explore how sports impact your mental health. Use your creativity to express your thoughts and feelings.

Social Media and Mental Well-being

While social media can connect young people and offer support, excessive use or exposure to negativity can fuel anxiety, depression, and body image issues, impacting their overall well-being. Striking a healthy balance and being mindful of content is crucial for navigating the complex world of social media.

Explore how social media impacts your mental health. Use your creativity to express your thoughts and feelings.

2| Choose a Medium:

• Literary Arts:  Short stories, essays, poetry, scripts, graphic novels. Submissions in this category not to exceed 1,000 words.
• Visual Arts: Drawings, paintings, graphic design, photography, memes, and designed social media posts.
• Performing Arts:  Dance, theater, spoken word.
• Media Arts: Music, PSAs, film/video. Submissions in this category not to exceed three minutes.
• STEM: Robotics, digital design, gaming.

3|Describe your project:

Explain what you made and what you are trying to tell us with your work.  Are you raising awareness about a specific issue, inspiring others, or simply sharing your unique perspective?

4|Submit It!

Create and submit your final project by May 26, 2024 at, 11:59 p.m. EST

Upload entries. Acceptable upload file formats are as follows:

• .MP4
• .MOV
• .JPG
• .PNG
• .GIF
• PDF

Video and song entries to not exceed 3 minutes. 

Go here to submit your entry!