2023 Art Contest for CMHAW Poster

Did you know that 1 in 5 children and youth in South Carolina experiences a mental health condition in a given year?

Although mental health conditions are common among children and youth, approximately half of them do not receive treatment. This is due to several factors including stigma—which is caused by misinformation or fear.

Stigma has a significant impact on whether or not we:

  • Seek treatment for ourselves or our children
  • Encourage and support others to seek treatment; and
  • Notice and appropriately respond to behaviors and expressions of feelings and thoughts that indicate something else may be happening

It is important to take opportunities to combat stigma by providing factual information, resources and hope to others who may be experiencing mental health conditions in silence.

When Words Fail, Art Speaks!

The Federation of Families of South Carolina (FFSC) holds an annual statewide Art Contest for children, youth and young adults (up to age 25) to serve as a positive and creative outlet to combat stigma.

It can be hard for children/youth to articulate verbally what they are feeling, so it’s important to emphasize how helpful art is for expression. When they can’t put it into words what they are feeling, art can communicate and provide them with a way to cope and express.

For the past 20 years, the winning artwork from this contest has been used to design the poster for Children’s Mental Health Acceptance Week (CMHAW). The winning art will be the one that best represents the theme “It’s OK to not be OK!”. The CMHAW posters are proudly displayed in community mental health centers and schools across the state.

FFSC recognizes the month of May as Children’s Mental Health Month and celebrates National Children’s Mental Health Acceptance Week, which is observed the first full week of May.

The prizes are as follows: 1st place: $100, 2nd place: $50 & 3rd place: $25

Deadline for entries: Friday, March 3, 2023, by 5:00 p.m.

Voting process information: An internal review/voting process will be organized by the Federation of Families of SC. The artwork that meets all requirements and represents the theme will be featured in the top 10 online voting process. Online voting will be held in March 2023.

An entry form must be completed and submitted with artwork. For more information about rules, requirements and how to access the entry form, please click the boxes below.

If you have any questions, please call us at 866.779.0402 or email [email protected].

Please submit all artwork to:
Federation of Families of SC
810 Dutch Square Blvd. Suite 486 Columbia, SC 29210

2022 Art Contest Poster

 

The Art Contest is held yearly to celebrate Children’s Mental Health Month & Children’s Mental Health Acceptance Week!

Featured here is our 2022 Children’s Mental Health Acceptance Week Poster!

Artist: Amare Jones