Essay, slogan competition to mark World Mental Health Day

Art Competition

* Artwork should be drawn only on 14X18-inch white paper (drawing paper)

* Any form of medium may be used

* Only one piece of artwork can be submitted per person

Essay competition

* Each essay should be 1,000 to 1,200 words

* Essays should be written on foolscap paper using a carbon ball-point pen

* Each participant can only submit one essay

* Essay may be writ ten in Sinhala, Tamil or English

Slogan competition

* The objective is to develop a creative slogan that could be used to reduce the stigma towards those with mental illness in the community

* Each slogan should be less than 15 words

* Participants can enter more than one slogan

* Slogans may be written in Sinhala, Tamil or English

An essay and a slogan competition will be held for students to mark World Mental Health Day which falls on October 10, the National Institute of Mental Health said in a release. The contest will portray ways and means of caring for family members with mental illness through essays and slogans.

All selected submissions will be displayed at the National Art Gallery in October. The best entries in each section will receive prizes and certificates.

Students from years 5 to 13 are encouraged to enter. The closing date for entries is September 10.

Participants should answer the question: How would we take care of a family member with mental illness?

Age Groups: Group 1 - Year 5 to 7 (Junior), Group 2 - Year and 8 - 10 (Senior 1) and Group 3 - Year 11 to 13 (Senior 2).

Eligibility and contest rules: Only students who are in year 5 and above from national or provincial schools are eligible to participate. It is expected that the material used in the submissions will be obtained from books, Internet and through discussions with teachers and elders. All submissions need to be certified by the Principal. The selection of winning entries will be done by NIMH employees All submissions will be the property of NIMH.

All entries should reach Occupational Therapy Unit/Psychiatric Social Work Unit National Institute of Mental Health – Angoda on or before September 10. Contact Chandana at 011-2578234-7 or Ashoka 0112578234-7 (Extension 238/226) for inquiries