mental health essay contests

Mental Health America of the Northern Suburbs

Annual Essay and Multimedia Contest

Since 2003, MHANS has held an annual contest for youth on a topic related to mental health. In 2013, what had been a writing contest became an Essay and Multimedia Contest, as we encouraged youth to use artwork as a way to express themselves. In 2018, we opened the Contest to Middle/Junior School students, who are judged in a separate age category.

Since 2013, we began using what participants told us, analyzing the submissions for common themes and creating anonymized data, which we have subsequently used to create educational programming, brochures, and social media posts – all designed to provide information on what teens think and experience around a variety of topics related to mental health and wellness. The “Teens Speak Out” series, which has expanded into “Teens and Tweens Speak Out” since the Contest began taking admissions from Middle/Junior school students, is now an integral part of our annual community education programming.

2024 Essay and Multimedia Contest

Our Annual Essay and Multimedia Contest is now open for submissions from students 6th-12th grade. Our annual contest is designed to empower youth to share their concerns, ideas, and solutions. Cash prizes up to $500 are available. Submissions must be sent on or before March 15, 2024.

Using the questions below as a prompt, either write an essay or create a piece of artwork.

Prompt: Social Media and Its Impact on Mental Health & Relationships

How has social media affected your mental health? How does social media contribute to or hinder your relationships?

Entries can be submitted in any language !

Essays: Tell a powerful story in 250 to 500 words, using personal experiences.

Art/Videos: Tell a powerful story through original art and include an artist statement. Can be submitted on a poster, digital media, a 1-2 minute video, or any other creative form.

Entry Instructions:

Do not include your name or school on your essay or media. Instead, attach a separate sheet and include your name, email, address, school, grade, and teacher’s name.

Mail submissions to: Mental Health America of the Northern Suburbs, c/o Turning Point, 8324 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, IL 60077

OR Email to: [email protected]

All personal information is kept confidential. Entries become property of Mental Health America of the Northern Suburbs (MHANS) and may be published with the author’s permission. Winners will be selected by a panel of judges.

Eligibility:

Students submitting essays should be in grades 6 through 12 living going to school in Illinois. Students do not need to be US citizens or have legal status in the US to be eligible to submit essays.

MHANS Essay Contest Winners Ceremony

On April 28th at 2PM at the Morton Grove Public Library in Baxter Auditorium we will be honoring the essay contest winners! If you win, you will be contacted with a formal invitation.

Questions? Email [email protected]

We thank the 2024 Essay and Multimedia Contest Sponsor, Yellowbrick .

Essay Contest Opens for High School Students

The “Speaking Up About Mental Health” national essay challenge is open until Jan. 16. The contest encourages teens to start conversations about mental health and the stigma people may face when seeking mental health treatment. The National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development are co-sponsors. 

U.S. high school students ages 16-18 are invited to submit short essays (not exceeding 1,000 words) on topics that may include stigma and barriers, resilience and coping strategies, school policies or practices, the impact of social media and technology and more. Multiple winners will be chosen to receive cash prizes. 

Winners will be announced on May 31. 

For details, visit https://nimhd.nih.gov/EssayContest . 

Read the winning 2022 essays at go.nih.gov/DI0DqdX .

• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

• Virtual Tour
• Staff Directory
• En Español

You are here

News releases.

News Release

Monday, April 29, 2019

Nationwide essay contest challenges high schoolers to be frank about mental health

Multiple winners to be awarded by NIH and the Calvin J. Li Memorial Foundation.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for youths aged 15 to 24, yet only about half of young adults with a mental disorder receive treatment. In an effort to address this disparity and further conversations about mental health among high schoolers, the National Institutes of Health invites students ages 16 to 18 years old to participate in the “ Speaking Up About Mental Health! ” essay contest. Essays should explore ways to address the stigma and social barriers that adolescents from racial and ethnic minority populations may face when seeking mental health treatment. The contest is led by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), in collaboration with the Calvin J. Li Memorial Foundation , and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD). NIMH and NIMHD are components of NIH.

“Teens have important stories to tell about their experiences with mental health treatment, and we hope this contest will give them an opportunity to express their thoughts and ideas. It’s clear we need to work with them to better understand mental health stigma and the barriers they may face when seeking mental health treatment,” said Joshua Gordon, M.D., Ph.D., director of NIMH.

Ideas for essay topics could include:

• Creative ways to start a conversation about mental health or related stigma
• Innovative approaches to remove, reduce, or lower barriers to mental health treatment
• Suggested changes in school policies or practices that could help reduce stigma
• Other areas of concern to individuals and their communities with respect to mental health

This contest was started as part of the Healthy Mind Initiative , which aims to increase mental health awareness and promote suicide prevention in Asian American and Pacific Islander youth, although the contest is open to all high school youths nationwide. The goal of the initiative is to reach a population that may view mental health care negatively, or may not consider it at all, due to stigma, lack of awareness and education, or differences in cultural conceptualization of mental health.

“Every year millions of Americans struggle with mental illness, which does not discriminate,” said Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable, M.D., director of NIMHD. “Severe mental Illness occurs in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups and access to treatment is a special challenge for disadvantaged populations.”

Contest rules and prize information:

There is no application fee to participate, and entries should be submitted by May 31, 2019 on Challenge.gov . Winners will be announced on Sept. 30, 2019. The contest is open to all current U.S. or U.S. territory high school students ages 16 to 18 at the time of submission. Some entrants may not be eligible to receive an NIH prize, but may be recognized as a finalist and eligible for a non-NIH cash prize from the Calvin J. Li Memorial Foundation. Prize winners and finalists will have their essays posted on the Healthy Mind Initiative website.

For more information on the rules of the contest and registration requirements see the contest webpage at www.challenge.gov or by contacting [email protected] .

For further information:

Nancy Tian, Ph.D. , LCDR, U.S. Public Health Service

Erin Shannon , NIH

About the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): The mission of the NIMH is to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention, recovery, and cure. For more information, visit the NIMH website .

About the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD): NIMHD leads scientific research to improve minority health and eliminate health disparities by conducting and supporting research; planning, reviewing, coordinating, and evaluating all minority health and health disparities research at NIH; promoting and supporting the training of a diverse research workforce; translating and disseminating research information; and fostering collaborations and partnerships. For more information, visit the NIMHD website .

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov .

NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health ®

Connect with Us

• More Social Media from NIH

MENTAL HEALTH: TEEN CHANGEMAKERS ESSAY CONTEST

Submission deadline, field(s) of study.

Unrestricted

Award Amount

Description.

The International Bipolar Foundation Annual High School Essay Contest is open to all high school students, ages 13 to 19. Essays should be 500-1000 words. PROMPTS: OPTION A: Meet with your principle, counseling office or teacher to learn about the mental health programs and/or services that your school offers. Write a report on these programs, including how you will promote and support them to raise awareness on campus. OPTION B: Work with your principle, counseling office or teacher to create a proposal for a mental health program, campaign, or group that you would like to see your school implement for its students. i.e., mental health fair, mental health awareness day, mental heath movie screening, #nostigma club, etc. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's website.

Contact Information

You must be logged in to view contact information.

Register now to view contact information for this scholarship, or login

More Award Details

Third Annual World Mental Health Global Essay Contest

Human rights committee.

Announces the

ABOUT WFMH :

The World Federation for Mental Health is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year as the only non-governmental, worldwide, multidisciplinary advocacy and public education organization concerned with all aspects of mental health and mental illness. WFMH was founded in 1948 to advance, among all peoples and nations, the prevention of mental and emotional disorders, the proper treatment and care of those with such disorders, and the promotion of mental health.

The goal of the WFMH Human Rights Committee is to promote and defend the rights, dignity, and autonomy of persons with mental illness, to improve their mental health care, and to improve their environment. This goal shall be accomplished through dissemination of knowledge and information through discussion, education, training, networking, support of individuals and communities, the use of media, and collaboration with other organizations with similar goals.

ESSAY SUBJECT :

In 1948, in addition to the founding of the WFMH, the UN Human Rights Declaration was born. The strength of the Declaration is its universality and timelessness. Although the world has changed in past 50 years, not all countries abide by the Declaration’s principles. In the last 50 years, according to documented sources, there have been over 160 wars, and countless systemic persecutions and atrocities affecting innocent people.

ESSAY QUESTION : What changes do you recommend to prevent continued human rights violations and to improve world mental health, in general, and the mental health of survivors, in particular?

A $200 US Savings Bond for high school students

Eligibility and Submission Criteria :

• Students must be enrolled in high school (Grades 9-12); non-US students include the four grades immediately prior to first year of University.
• Essays must be original and unpublished;
• Essays must include social and psychological perspectives of human rights;
• No more than one entry per year, and per family;
• All entries become the property of WFMH, Human Rights Committee and will not be returned;
• WFMH Human Rights Committee reserves the right to make no award(s) in a given year if, in the opinion of its three judges, the submissions do not meet the criteria.

All entries must be postmarked by December 6, 2000. Winner(s) will be notified and announced by the end of January 2001. Please include cover letter indicating name, address, phone # (include area code or city code), age, year of study, name of school and career objectives, and mail to:

Dr. Anie Kalayjian, 130 W. 79th Street, Ground Floor, New York, NY 10024, U.S.A.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Submit your email and get regular updates from the WFMH.

• Alzheimer’s Program
• Community Mental Health Clinic
• Employment Program
• Family Advocacy Center
• Gambling Awareness Program
• Health Insurance Navigator Program
• Immunization Program
• MAHA Community Health Center
• JTED-Restaurant Upskill Project
• Substance Use Prevention Program
• More Programs
• Past Programs
• Mission Statement
• Leadership/Staff
• Partnership
• Employment Opportunities
• Internship Volunteer

ESSAY CONTEST – Break the Silence of Mental Health

February 18, 2021

This contest aims to provide a platform for teens to express opinions and ideas associated with mental health and life challenges. Through the contest, we want to develop an understanding of the stigma associated with mental health among adolescents, and also learn the barriers faced by the youth to speaking up about the issues and challenges.

Ideas for essay topics could include :

• Break the silence and reduce the stigma about mental health
• The role of parenting in building good mental health in children
• Positive impact of friendships and relationships on mental health
• Innovative approaches to reduce communication barriers between immigrant parents and children
• Every Day Begins with a Hope
• Tell a story about a hero with mental health challenges
• Creative solutions that can help reduce stigma about mental health
• COVID-19 impact on youth mental health and suggested changes that could prevent the mental health issues.
• Speaking up about mental health and why it is important?
• Creative ways to start a conversation about mental health or related stigma

Awards: First prize (1): $300 Second Prize (2): $200 Third Prize (3): $100

General Submission Guidelines:

Poetry, fiction, prose, drawing and films are not allowed to enter this contest.   Please submit c reative Nonfiction.

CREATIVE NONFICTION : Creative writing with a factual basis, between 1500 and 2000 words, is a must. Examples can include diary entries, autobiographical writing, letters, personal essays and literary journalism.

The closing date for entries is midnight on May 31, 2021. We cannot accept any entries received after this date. Please  read the submission guidelines below  for full details on how to enter and ensure you complete the entry.

Submission guidelines (please read before submitting):

• Entry to this contest is free.
• Entrants must be high school students.
• Entries must be typed and in English.
• Entries must be the entrant’s own original work and must not have previously been published either in print or online.
• We will accept entries written at any time as long as they have not previously been published or earned an award
• We can only accept entry by email:

Entrants should send a single email with   their full name, phone number and entry title as the subject   to   [email protected]   by   midnight on May 15, 2021.

Entries must be submitted as WORD attachments to the email. NO Google doc sharing is allowed. NO PDF or picture file is allowed. The entry should not be typed in the body of the email. It MUST be an attachment. Attachments   should be compatible Word files only .

Please name each file with student’s first name and last name and the title of the entry.   Do not put name, initials or anything that may identify you on any file except the google entry form and in the subject bar .

Here is the google form link:   https://forms.gle/6ov27vFX9WLaPQE49   . When you are ready to email your entry to us, then submit your google form immediately. Emailing your entry and submitting google form should be done one after another.

For further information, please contact:

[email protected] or   847-380-0018

• 2023 Contest Results
• 2023 Psychology Essay Contest
• 2022 Contest Results
• 2022 Psychology Essay Contest
• Submission Guidelines

SoT Psychology Essay Contest

Topic   the al-psychology connection: exploring the lmpact of artificial lntelligence on mental health, therapy, and well-being.  , students are asked to write an essay (up to 1,500 words) to address the following five points:.

Discuss the Al-Psychology Connection: Exploring the lmpact of Artificial lntelligence on Mental Health, Therapy, and Well-being.

• Discuss how this problem impacts a specific group of people. Personal or more general examples are encouraged.
• Describe one way that the study of psychology can help you and others understand an aspect of individual cognition, behavior or development related to this problem. You must state, describe, and provide an example relating to at least one specific concept in psychology.
• Discuss one way in which the study of psychology can help you understand an aspect of social relations or influences related to this problem. You must state, describe, and provide an example relating to at least one specific concept in psychology.
• Discuss one way in which a concept in psychology can help inform a solution to this systemic problem. You must state, describe, and provide an example relating to at least one specific concept in psychology.

Submissions must:

• Address the essay prompts provided above
• The work must be written in English
• The work must be completed individually, not in teams or groups
• Include citations from credible, peer-reviewed sources
• Plagiarism is prohibited. The top essays will be submitted to Turnitin.com before awards are decided and essays with evidence of plagiarism will be eliminated from the competition

Submission format requirements:

• Times New Roman, 12-point type, double-spaced
• Include the title, author information on the cover page, and an abstract of no more than 250 words.
• In-text citation in APA format and a references list. For more information, please consult the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.).
• MS Word Format Only

Eligibility and Rules

oEntry Requirements

Entry is open to students from any country and any school. Candidates must be 18 years old, or younger, on the date of the submission deadline.

Key Dates​ ​

Submission deadline - 15th, August, 2023

Award Announcement - 1st, October, 2023

200 RMB. All income will be used for project operations and other non-profit activities.

Awards First Prize 500 RMB

Second Prize 300 RMB

Third Prize 200RMB

Honorable Mention

Scoring Rubric

Formatting and Language

An essay of no more than 1,500 words (Cover page, abstract, and reference page do not count toward word limit)

• A cover page specifying the title and author information.
• An abstract of 120-250 words.
• In-text citations in correct APA format.
• A reference page in correct APA format.
• Free of grammar mistakes

Accurately identify and describe the origin and current situation of a problem of public mental health

Provide Coherent and consistent line of reasoning

Use at least one specific concept in Psychology to support your point

Accurately and clearly discuss one way to inform a solution to this problem.

Academic Committee

• Mission and Vision
• Scientific Advancement Plan
• Science Visioning
• Research Framework
• Minority Health and Health Disparities Definitions
• Organizational Structure
• Staff Directory
• About the Director
• Director’s Messages
• News Mentions
• Presentations
• Selected Publications
• Director's Laboratory
• Congressional Justification
• Congressional Testimony
• Legislative History
• NIH Minority Health and Health Disparities Strategic Plan 2021-2025
• Minority Health and Health Disparities: Definitions and Parameters
• NIH and HHS Commitment
• Foundation for Planning
• Structure of This Plan
• Strategic Plan Categories
• Summary of Categories and Goals
• Scientific Goals, Research Strategies, and Priority Areas
• Research-Sustaining Activities: Goals, Strategies, and Priority Areas
• Outreach, Collaboration, and Dissemination: Goals and Strategies
• Leap Forward Research Challenge
• Future Plans
• Research Interest Areas
• Research Centers
• Research Endowment
• Community Based Participatory Research Program (CBPR)
• SBIR/STTR: Small Business Innovation/Tech Transfer
• Solicited and Investigator-Initiated Research Project Grants
• Scientific Conferences
• Training and Career Development
• Loan Repayment Program (LRP)
• Data Management and Sharing
• Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Population and Community Health Sciences
• Epidemiology and Genetics
• Medical Research Scholars Program (MRSP)
• Coleman Research Innovation Award
• Health Disparities Interest Group
• Art Challenge
• Breathe Better Network
• Healthy Hearts Network
• DEBUT Challenge
• Healthy Mind Initiative
• Mental Health Essay Contest
• Science Day for Students at NIH
• Fuel Up to Play 60 en Español
• Brother, You're on My Mind
• Celebrating National Minority Health Month
• Reaching People in Multiple Languages
• Funding Strategy
• Active Funding Opportunities
• Expired Funding Opportunities
• Technical Assistance Webinars

• Community Health and Population Sciences
• Clinical and Health Services Research
• Integrative Biological and Behavioral Sciences
• Intramural Research Program
• Training and Diverse Workforce Development
• Inside NIMHD
• ScHARe HDPulse PhenX SDOH Toolkit Understanding Health Disparities For Research Applicants For Research Grantees Research and Training Programs Reports and Data Resources Health Information for the Public Science Education

• NIMHD Programs
• NIMHD Education and Outreach
• 2019 Awardees

• Extramural Research
• Intramural Research
• NIMHD Collaborations
• Fuel Up to Play 60 en Espanol
• COVID-19 Information and Resources

2019 Essay Contest Awardees

Speaking up about mental health this is my story.

Make it Noteworthy: Let's Have a Discussion

Alexis, North Carolina

Mental illness is often brought up in school, but never fully discussed. This lack of discussion can create effects that are tragic, and yet it's completely preventable. How will we start the discussion?

Breaching the Stigma: Improving Mental Health Education

Amanda, Maryland

It should not take a tragedy to prompt community discussions about mental illnesses. By integrating lessons about mental health into curriculums and increasing accessibility to mental health resources, schools can promote a deeper understanding and awareness about this highly stigmatized condition.

Bent Not Broken

Anastasia, Kentucky

Follow my journey and learn how we can fight the national crisis of childhood trauma. Learn how our schools can help those of us who are “bent, not broken.”

Improving the Treatment of Mental Illness in the Black Community

Andrew, Maryland

How can mental health treatment be improved in the Black community? In my essay, I describe the relationship between mental health services and underprivileged areas, discuss barriers preventing individuals from receiving treatment, and detail methods to better target treatment through community outreach and government action.

Jasmine, Colorado

I share a piece of my story — my struggles, my frustrations, my mental health — in hopes of illuminating that mental health affects all, regardless of race, age, location, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, political views, and religious beliefs. I share some of my ideas in hopes of breaking the stigma, opening up conversation, inspiring initiatives to promote mental health awareness and acceptance, and ultimately, motivating at least one more person to unite in this fight.

Now I Understand

Jayvion, North Carolina

My essay, "Now I Understand" is about realizing what my mental health diagnosis meant and how many people in the world have the same struggles as I do. My essay led to the development of a mental health awareness survey and self-inventory checklist to be used within the juvenile justice centers in North Carolina to highlight the connection between mental health issues and juvenile offender activity.

Break the Stigma!

Kaylee, Virginia

High schools have an alarming lack of mental health resources despite the fact that 20% of students will have a severe mental illness while in high school. A student tackled this issue by educating peers and teachers in her area about the dangers of mental health.

Rising Up: Breaking the Vicious Cycle of Suffering in Silence

Lili, Maryland

When it comes to mental health, students suffer in silence for a multitude of reasons, whether it be the stigma or the lack of knowledge of this complex and vague topic at an appropriate age. To combat this issue, Rising Up was uniquely created to foster important conversations about mental health between middle school students as they navigate the difficulties and challenges that come with growing up.

No More Silence

Lydia, Virginia

Moved by issues of mental illness that have impacted my Korean-American community and public high school, I sought to take action. Though my experiences and the lessons learned along the way, I share what's worked for me to help others spread mental health awareness in their own communities.

Find Your Center

Sahithi, California

Challenges to youth mental health care include cost, stigma, and the lack of early intervention services. Creating a national network of free, youth-led mental health centers based in local communities would address these barriers to encourage help-seeking behaviors among young people.

Honorable Mentions

Pushing Through Fear

Morgan, Kentucky

Eight-year-old Morgan was diagnosed as clinically depressed after a bullying experience at school. Instead of blaming others or ignoring what happened to her, she chose to tell her story and pushed through her own fears to find a way to help other kids get the mental health services they need.

Peer Programs: A Solution for Youth by Youth

Samskruthi, California

In our current mental health system, youth often experience a lack of accessibility to mental health care, with stigma and confusion that make the process of getting help more difficult than it should be. Implementing peer programs in schools would reach youth widely, increase mental health literacy, reduce stigma, provide peer support, and encourage youth to seek help.

Page updated September 6, 2022

Sept. 2019: NIH announces winners of high school mental health essay contest

April 2019: Nationwide essay contest challenges high schoolers to be frank about mental health

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities

U.S. Food and Drug Administration

National Institute of Mental Health

NIMHD Fact Sheet

Read about what is happening at NIMHD at the News and Events section

301-402-1366

[email protected]

Connect with Us

Subscribe to email updates

Staying Connected

• Funding Opportunities  
• News & Events  
• HHS Vulnerability Disclosure  
• Privacy/Disclaimer/Accessibility Policy  
• Viewers & Players  

‘The Age of Magical Overthinking’ tries to pinpoint our mental health crisis

Amanda montell casts a wide net in her new essay collection. maybe too wide..

Every generation has its own crisis, the linguist and podcaster Amanda Montell writes. In the 1960s and ’70s, young Americans organized against “physical tyrannies” such as voter suppression and workplace discrimination. But times have changed.

The 21st century brought a shift in our attention from external threats to internal ones, Montell says. Rates of anxiety and depression among U.S. teens and adults have spiked. Loneliness is a public health threat . We’re glued to our phones, alienated from loved ones and surrounded by misinformation.

People everywhere, Montell writes, are facing a crisis of the mind.

From this grim landscape emerges “ The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality ,” Montell’s third book and a sweeping look at mental health, behavioral science, misinformation and online culture in the 2020s. In it, she argues that the ills of the internet era are best explained by looking back on humanity’s history, when our minds developed shortcuts to improve our odds of survival. Those shortcuts are called cognitive biases, and they may lead us to do strange things like fall for a conspiracy theory or accept mental health advice from an untrained influencer .

Montell leads us through an engaging roundup of “21st century derangement,” from celebrity worship to tradwife discourse , examining how cognitive biases may contribute. But by positioning her work as a response to America’s broad struggle with mental health, Montell promises more than she delivers. Rather than focusing on a tour of our shared cognitive glitches, she juggles meta-commentary on such vast topics as the modern mind and the internet, dropping balls along the way.

The book opens with an account of Montell’s struggles with anxiety and overwhelm, as well as the steps she took to feel better. “My most cinematic attempt at mental rehab involved picking herbs on a farm in Sicily under a light-pollution-free sky,” she writes.

Eventually, she had an aha moment: The same cognitive biases she encountered while researching toxic social groups for her second book, “ Cultish ,” could explain why the internet age felt like a “mass head trip.” Glutted with more information in a day than we can ever hope to process, we fall back on mental habits developed when humans were simpler creatures, Montell writes. For example, social media celebrity worship could be fueled by the “halo effect,” where we assume a person with one good quality (writing hit pop songs) has other good qualities (a perfectly tuned moral compass). Or perhaps we spend hours comparing ourselves with other people on Instagram because the “zero-sum bias” has convinced us that life is a game of winners and losers.

Montell backs up her connections in many instances with nods to evolutionary biology. For early humans, it made sense to attach ourselves to the strongest and most powerful, so now we glom onto Taylor Swift or Charli XCX. Resources like mates and status were limited in ancient human communities, Montell notes, so it’s natural that we view hot people on Instagram as immediate threats to our survival.

Montell finds examples of cognitive bias in internet culture flash points, such as the millennial obsession with New Age therapy-speak. Faced with big problems, such as anxiety or depression, our minds seek big explanations, such as childhood trauma or a scarcity mind-set, rather than examining all the smaller problems at play.

In other spots, she shares stories from her own life. In her late 20s, she struggled to end an abusive relationship, terrified that giving up meant she’d wasted years of her life — a classic “sunk cost fallacy.” Humans are social creatures, Montell notes, afraid of inviting scrutiny by admitting mistakes.

“My hope is for these chapters to make some sense of the senseless,” Montell says early on. “To crack open a window in our minds, and let a warm breeze in.” And indeed, in some moments, her sharp descriptions of behavioral foibles and her talent for cutting through doublespeak clear room for hope: Maybe noticing our warped thinking will make its effects less painful. Maybe our generational “crisis” is a story of not-enough-neurons encountering too-many-terabytes.

When confidence in Montell’s analysis wavers, it’s because the targets are too broad, the claims imprecise. For instance, we’re never quite sure of the shape of the national mental health crisis she repeatedly references. Early on, she draws a distinction between Americans’ current mental health struggles and 20th-century battles against bodily oppression. This neat separation doesn’t reflect reality — “The Age of Magical Overthinking” was published after Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization and during ongoing fights for voter access, health care and the right to protest. It also doesn’t reflect what science has shown about illnesses like depression, which are often tied up with a person’s physical and political well-being. Ultimately, we’re left with the sense that Montell’s crisis of the mind begins and ends with the vague feelings of anxiety and dread many people feel after scrolling on social media apps.

Montell implies that the breakdown of Americans’ mental health began after 2000, brought on by internet access and introspection. Conflating “the internet” with social media, she draws loose connections between online scrolling and mental turmoil, making no reference to the complicated science around how social media use affects our brains. Some studies have found bumps in anxiety and depression associated with social media use, but more recent meta-analyses call their methods and findings into question . To date, researchers have found no consistent causal link between spending time on social apps and experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Of course, future research may uncover new ways to measure how social media use or other online activities affect the mental health of different populations. Perhaps we should rely on a different measure altogether, like qualitative research into young people and their families. Rather than critique the existing science or offer an alternative lens, Montell picks two studies that support her thesis and hand-waves at the dire state of things.

Finally, although Montell says cognitive biases affect everyone, she aims her jabs at the safest of targets: “Disney adults,” “male girlbosses,” “Facebook-addicted Karens.” Readers hoping for fresh or counterintuitive takes on internet culture — and its heroes and villains — may walk away disappointed.

Montell says from the jump that her analysis of 2020s malaise is “not a system of thought,” likening her work instead to a Buddhist koan — meant to be pondered, not understood. That’s fine, and “The Age of Magical Overthinking” ultimately features interesting topics, fun research and vivid stories. But in Montell’s effort to critique the spirit of our times, she asks imprecise questions and offers unsatisfactory answers.

Tatum Hunter is a consumer technology reporter at The Washington Post based in San Francisco. Her work focuses on health, privacy and relationships in the internet era.

The Age of Magical Overthinking

Notes on Modern Irrationality

By Amanda Montell

Atria/One Signal. 272 pp. $28.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Families including someone with mental illness can experience deep despair. They need support

Lead, Mental Health, Edith Cowan University

Disclosure statement

Dr Amanda Cole is affiliated with the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses - Chair, Education and Accrediation Committee

Edith Cowan University provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU.

View all partners

In the aftermath of the tragic Bondi knife attack , Joel Cauchi’s parents have spoken about their son’s long history of mental illness, having been diagnosed with schizophrenia at age 17. They said they were “devastated and horrified” by their son’s actions. “To you he’s a monster,” said his father. “But to me he was a very sick boy.”

Globally, one out of every eight people report a mental illness . In Australia, one in five people experience a mental illness in their lifetime.

Mental illness and distress affects not only the person living with the condition, but family members and communities . As the prevalence of mental health problems grows, the flow-on effect to family members, including caregivers, and the impact on families as a unit, is also rising.

While every family is different, the words of the Cauchis draw attention to how families can experience distress, stress, fear, powerlessness, and still love, despite the challenges and trauma. How can they help a loved one? And who can they turn to for support?

Read more: Bondi attacker had 'mental health issues' but most people with mental illness aren’t violent

The role of caregivers

Informal caregivers help others within the context of an existing relationship , such as a family member. The care they provide goes beyond the usual expectations or demands of such relationships.

Around 2.7 million Australians provide informal care. For almost a third of these the person’s primary medical diagnosis is psychological or psychiatric.

It has long been acknowledged that those supporting a family member with ongoing mental illness need support themselves.

In the 1980s, interest grew in caregiving dynamics within families of people grappling with mental health issues. Subsequent research recognised chronic health conditions not only affect the quality of life and wellbeing of the people experiencing them, but also impose burdens that reverberate within relationships, caregiving roles, and family dynamics over time.

Past studies have shown families of those diagnosed with chronic mental illness are increasingly forced to manage their own depression , experience elevated levels of emotional stress , negative states of mind and decreased overall mental health .

Conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia can severely impact daily functioning, relationships, and overall quality of life . Living with mental illness is often accompanied by a myriad of challenges. From stigma and discrimination to difficulty accessing adequate health care and support services. Patients and their families navigate a complex and often isolating journey.

Read more: More than mental illness. How the NDIS review could help people with psychosocial disability

The family is a system

The concept of family health acknowledges the physical and psychological wellbeing of a person is significantly affected by the family.

Amid these challenges, family support emerges as a beacon of hope. Research consistently demonstrates strong familial relationships and support systems play a pivotal role in mitigating the adverse effects of mental illness. Families provide emotional support, practical assistance, and a sense of belonging that are vital for people struggling with mental illness.

My recent research highlights the profound impact of mental illness on family dynamics, emphasising the resilience and endurance shown by participants. Families struggling with mental illness often experience heightened emotional fluctuations, with extreme highs and lows. The enduring nature of family caregiving entails both stress and adaptation over an extended period. Stress associated with caregiving and the demands on personal resources and coping mechanisms builds and builds.

Yet families I’ve interviewed find ways to live “a good life”. They prepare for the peaks and troughs, and show endurance and persistence. They make space for mental illness in their daily lives, describing how it spurs adaptation, acceptance and inner strength within the family unit.

When treating a person with mental illness, health practitioners need to consider the entire family’s needs and engage with family members. By fostering open and early dialogue and providing comprehensive support, health-care professionals can empower families to navigate the complexities of mental illness while fostering resilience and hope for the future. Family members express stories of an inner struggle, isolation and exhaustion.

Read more: 'We lose ourselves': carers talk about the lonely, stressful work of looking after loved ones

Shifting the focus

There is a pressing need for a shift in research priorities, from illness-centered perspectives to a strengths-based focus when considering families “managing” mental illness.

There is transformative potential in harnessing strengths to respond to challenges posed by mental illnesses, while also supporting family members .

For people facing mental health challenges, having loved ones who listen without judgement and offer empathy can alleviate feelings of despair. Beyond emotional support, families often serve as crucial caregivers, assisting with daily tasks, medication management and navigating the health-care system .

As the Cauchi family so painfully articulated, providing support for a family member with mental illness is intensely challenging. Research shows caregiver burnout, financial strain and strained relationships are common.

Health-care professionals should prioritise support for family members at an early stage. In Australia, there are various support options available for families living with mental illness. Carer Gateway provides information, support and access to services. Headspace offers mental health services and supports to young people and their families.

Beyond these national services, GPs, nurses, nurse practitioners and local community health centres are key to early conversations. Mental health clinics and hospitals often target family involvement in treatment plans.

While Australia has made strides in recognising the importance of family support, challenges persist. Access to services can vary based on geographic location and demand, leaving some families under-served or facing long wait times. And the level of funding and resources allocated to family-oriented mental health support often does not align with the demand or complexity of need.

In the realm of mental illness, family support serves as a lifeline for people navigating the complexities of their conditions.

If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

• Mental health
• Psychiatric disorder
• psychosocial support
• Disability coverage
• family stress
• informal carers
• Bondi attack
• Sydney attacks

Project Offier - Diversity & Inclusion

Senior Lecturer - Earth System Science

Sydney Horizon Educators (Identified)

Deputy Social Media Producer

Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy

2 NCWV students win 2024 Disability History Essay contest

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va (WDTV) - Winners have been announced in the 2024 Disability History Essay contest in West Virginia, that includes 2 winners from North Central West Virginia.

The contest gave high school seniors the task to show their knowledge of the Disability Rights Movement, selected students won cash prizes and an award from the statewide independent living council.

From our area, Lane Siciliano won first place in District Two from University High School.

The second place winner in district 2 was Jordan Cox from North Marion High School, who won a thousand dollar prize.

The winners and their essays will all be issued in a special edition newsletter from the living council later this year.

The full list of winners can be found below:

• State Winner –Caleb Messer – Scott High School- $3,250
• District 1 – First Place – Joscelyn Camargo – South Charleston High School - $1,750
• District 1 – Second Place – Alexandria Harper – Riverside High School - $1000
• District 2 – First Place – Lane Siciliano – University High School - $1,750
• District 2 – Second Place – Jordan Cox – North Marion High School - $1000
• District 3 – First Place – Connor Dorsey – John Marshall High School - $1,750
• District 3 – Second Place – Kathryn Prather – Wheeling Park High School - $1000
• District 4 – First Place – Reagan Bennett – Shady Spring High School - $1750
• District 5 – First Place –Megan Griffey – Tug Valley High School - $1750
• District 5 – Second Place – Piper Cook – Wyoming East High School - $1000
• District 6 – First Place – Kyra Biser – Kyser High School - $1750

The WV Statewide Independent Living Council says to “please visit https://wvsilc.org/essay-contest for more information on the WV Disability History Essay Contest.”

Copyright 2024 WDTV. All rights reserved.

8-year-old child struck by car in Marion County

Black bear spotted in Morgantown

Man arrested for allegedly damaging car with vacuum cleaner

Bodies found in 24-year-old cold case after deathbed confession

1 dead in truck accident on Smithtown Road

Latest news.

Child taken to hospital after nearly drowning in hot tub

American Lung Association ranks Morgantown-Fairmont among the nation’s best in air quality

Cars and Coffee Bridgeport hosts first car show of the season this Sunday

Cars and Coffee PKG

Hoping to keep Spanish vibrant, Hartford organization announces high school essay contest

The Connecticut Institute for Community Development (CICD) — Puerto Rican Hartford Parade is hosting a Spanish-writing contest for all greater Hartford area high school students.

Ivonne Olmo, a board member of the CICD Puerto Rican Hartford Parade, emphasized the emotional significance of the contest. She said language is a vital aspect of Latino and Puerto Rican identity.

“When you know who you are, nobody can tell you who you are,” Olmo said. “So it's very important that children get connected with the roots, with their history. I know that we live in the United States we should know English, but always is important to know Spanish.”

The Spanish language is a key aspect in maintaining the cultural heritage of many communities, particularly those with Hispanic and Latino roots, organizers said.

Connecticut’s second largest community is Hispanic, comprising 18% of residents in the state. Spanish is a global language spoken by millions and research has shown that bilinguals can have improved memory, multitasking skills and problem-solving abilities.

“Being a bilingual person gives you a key to a lot of success so for us, it's important to promote the learning and the practice of Spanish,” Olmo said.

The essay contest is for ninth to 12th grade students in the greater Hartford area. The essay requires participants to explore the relationship between identity and language in a three-page essay written in Spanish. Submissions are due by April 30. The top two entries will be awarded scholarship prizes.

Samuel Vega, president of the CICD Puerto Rican Parade in Hartford, emphasized the importance of preserving Puerto Rican culture in Connecticut and promoting educational opportunities for young Latinos.

“You don't have to be Puerto Rican to qualify for the scholarship, it's for everyone, as long as you write the essay in Spanish you will qualify for this scholarship,” Vega said. “But you should always recognize where you came from, or your grandparents came from.”

Learning and using Spanish allows people to communicate with a diverse range of people, fostering connections and understanding across cultures, Olmo said.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Faith communities come together to learn about mental health and mental illness

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) - Tuesday morning mental health advocates were working with faith communities to learn from one another. The one thing they all came to do was help those struggling with mental health during an event organized by Christ Episcopal Church, Foundation 2, and the Linn County Mental Health Access Center.

“I think there’s a staggering amount of people in our community, in all communities, that their only companion right now is that darkness,” said Christ Episcopal Church Priest Brian Gross as he addressed the room.

“They are here to really give us an idea of what might a mental health problem look like, what are some of the signs and symptoms of somebody who might be considering suicide, and then what do we do about it if we are concerned about someone,” said Katy Lee with Christ Episcopal Church.

Speakers also got the opportunity to talk about appropriate language when talking about or to someone with mental health issues.

“We know that there’s certain beliefs or just certain ways in which ways things can be discussed and doing it together can really form a really good foundation to helping people in the community,” said Erin Foster with Linn County Mental Health Access Center.

Organizers say they wanted to give faith leaders the chance to learn how to fuse religion-based beliefs and the local options to treat mental illness, or someone who is experiencing thoughts of self harm or suicide.

“We are communities so we want to love and support all of those people that are in our community. We don’t want people to feel stigmatized if they have a mental illness, we want them to feel welcomed,” said Lee.

Organizers also tell me the church views their spiritual, mental, and medical lives as fused. Which is why they want to continue to learn about topics like this.

Copyright 2024 KCRG. All rights reserved.

A break before strong to severe storm chances return

Laws could change for some of Iowa’s youngest drivers

Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Deacon Hill enters transfer portal

Former Dubuque priest arrested, charged in 40-year-old sexual abuse case

Villanova transfer Olsen signs with Iowa

Latest news.

Cedar Rapids Police issues Operation Quickfind

Bill could create hurdles for renters with service animals

Former DBQ priest faces 5 charges of sexual abuse

Kirkwood Community College renames baseball field for longtime coach

Transforming the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses.

Información en español

Celebrating 75 Years! Learn More >>

• Science News
• Meetings and Events
• Social Media
• Press Resources
• Email Updates
• Innovation Speaker Series

 Archived Content

The National Institute of Mental Health archives materials that are over 4 years old and no longer being updated. The content on this page is provided for historical reference purposes only and may not reflect current knowledge or information.

NIH Announces Winners of High School Mental Health Essay Contest

Speaking Up About Mental Health! essays explored stigma and social barriers in seeking mental health treatment

September 30, 2019 • Press Release

The National Institutes of Health announces 10 winners of the “Speaking Up About Mental Health! This Is My Story” national essay challenge, which was designed to spur conversations among youth about mental health and encourage them to seek support for themselves and others.

“Only about half of young adults with a mental illness receive treatment,” said Joshua A. Gordon, M.D., Ph.D., director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). “We issued this essay contest to jump-start a conversation about the impact of mental illness among high school teens, barriers faced when seeking treatment, and innovative approaches to overcome those barriers.”

The NIMH and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), both part of NIH, led the contest in collaboration with the Calvin J. Li Memorial Foundation. A panel of judges from NIMH and NIMHD and the award approving officials selected the winning essays based on their organization, creativity, clarity, and quality of writing. Selected from more than 160 entries from 38 states and Puerto Rico, the essay winners and those receiving honorable mention awards addressed the challenges of stigma, fear, and improving mental health education and treatment, particularly in vulnerable populations. NIH will award cash prizes to the contest winners and certificates to those receiving honorable mention.

Although the contest was open to all high school students nationwide, it started as part of the Healthy Mind Initiative, which aims to increase mental health awareness and promote suicide prevention in Asian American and Pacific Islander youth. The goal of the initiative is to reach a population that may view mental health care negatively, or may not consider it at all, due to stigma, lack of awareness and education, or differences in cultural conceptualization of mental health. The winning and honorable mention essays are available at https://www.nimhd.nih.gov/programs/edu-training/hmi/winners.html  .

“I found the creative solutions from this diverse group of teens to help raise awareness of mental health challenges that many of our young people encounter to be a reason for optimism that we will reduce the burden of mental illness in the future,” said NIMHD Director Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable, M.D. “These essays can motivate all teenagers to address the gaps in mental health care that youth and young adults face, especially those from racial or ethnic minorities, disadvantaged communities, and sexual gender minorities.”

For anyone in crisis and in need of immediate help, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL) through https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org   and 1-800-273-8255 is available. The deaf and hard of hearing can contact to the Lifeline via TTY at 1-800-799-4889. Your confidential and toll-free call goes to the nearest crisis center in the Lifeline national network, where trained crisis workers are available to talk 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These centers provide crisis counseling and mental health referrals. If the situation is potentially life-threatening, callers should dial 911 or go to a hospital emergency room immediately.

About the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): The mission of the NIMH  is to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention, recovery and cure. For more information, visit the NIMH website .

About the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD): NIMHD leads scientific research to improve minority health and eliminate health disparities by conducting and supporting research; planning, reviewing, coordinating, and evaluating all minority health and health disparities research at NIH; promoting and supporting the training of a diverse research workforce; translating and disseminating research information; and fostering collaborations and partnerships. For more information, visit the NIMHD website  .

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH) : NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH  and its programs, visit the NIH website  .

NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health ®