February 2024 Winners

Our short film delves into the internal struggles of a teenager grappling with mental health issues. The narrative centers around the protagonist’s inner debate about reaching out to friends, teachers, and family for support.

No matter what my friend is going through, I am here for them whenever and wherever, and they are never a bother.

I wrote about the worries of a person in need. I wrote what they think or might be thinking when they ask for help.

My entry for ‘You Are Never a Bother’ is a piece that is very personal to me. I was able to positively change someone’s life, and I asked that person how it made them feel. Receiving words of encouragement like “you are not a bother” really helped uplift them.

Moving to a new school in a different district was pretty hard at the start. I had gone to school with people I’ve known since kindergarten and all of a sudden I felt like I didn’t belong to any where. But one day I worked up enough courage to ask if I could eat lunch with…

I created this piece because I believe it’s something others such as students like myself can relate to and deeply relate to it.

My submission is a poem, and my poem is meant to be for those who feel that they are bothersome, or an annoyance to others.

Our submission was inspired by how some of us feel at times. We want to share how we feel, but it’s difficult because we are soft-spoken or worried about bothering people with our problems. If we bottle our emotions we can get into a depression and that can lead to dark place.

The little things about you that make you ‘you’ can never be replaced. Never be afraid to ask for help because you’re not a burden, and you never will be.

I wanted to show the art of stillness and the raw emotion that a photo can capture. I wanted my picture to give off the effect of a person feeling safe, loved, and comfortable telling other people their pain or just a random fact that they came up with. I wanted to show that no one…

Our submission relates back to the submission’s criteria because the wolf wants to talk to the three little pigs but the pigs keep running away from him, so the wolf now feels like a bother.

A radio PSA announcing how the listener isn’t a bother and if they need help to reach out

Teenagers are often faced with negative thoughts. These thoughts totally engulf a teenager’s mind which impacts them in some of the worst ways possible. It’s hard to talk about emotions for a plethora of reasons; not understanding them, not wanting to appear weak, and not wanting to bother others. Reassurance, safe spaces, and support are what…

A conversation of two friends and one is comforting the other and telling them resources to further help them.

We made a PSA in the way you might see two radio show hosts quickly do between songs. We wanted to talk about this important topic but also wanted to say our message in an upbeat fashion to give hope to people who are listening.

Our purpose is to remind our peers they are not alone.

This video created by our Youths from the Eastern African Community shows how mental health is viewed from the viewpoint of the Eastern African culture. We were able create the content using Specific language, clothing and music from the Eastern African culture.

My submission represents that it’s ok to reach out when you are breaking down and emotional.

I worked so hard to find simple symbols that represented mental health, and through this, I found many ways to say “things will get better” and “its okay to be flawed” in the language of art. there are many ways to seek help, and art is yet another way to do so.

Our purpose is to remind our peers they are not alone.

This video created by our Youths from the Eastern African Community shows how mental health is viewed from the viewpoint of the Eastern African culture. We were able create the content using Specific language, clothing and music from the Eastern African culture.

This dance piece is about sometimes feeling alone and stuck, but with the help of others you can always find your way.

It is important to us that people know they aren’t a bother. Their problems matter, and there are people who care about what they are going through. We have seen people feel like they don’t have anyone to talk to, and we want to help make our school and community a more welcoming and caring place.

It is important for my friends to know that they are never a bother. They can come to me with any problems, and as a peer mentor, I want to be there for my friends and point them in the right direction.

This art piece represents what I would say to a friend in need. Shared experiences and friends help people open up and speak their mind.

The film is about finding hope in things, like practicing different methods of self-care and seeking help from others (such as licensed professionals, friends, or family).

If you’re ever in a situation where your friend is acting distant and stops hanging out with you, then you should reach out to that person and offer them your support.

This is a digital art piece of a young child reaching for the stars, where sunlight and stardust collide with each other, as well as a hand reaching out. By asking different people to take a look at this picture, I’ve learned that everyone sees and feels something different.

A small bit of hope can not only bring life back into our lives, but can liberate us from our doubt, guilt, and despair.

This film is a story about a boy’s mental health journey.