September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month! Gwinnett youth joined GUIDE in celebration with a Suicide Prevention Month Art Contest!
The Campaign
Words influence a person’s beliefs and thoughts about something. Words also affect the stigma around a certain topic, such as suicide or substance use. Stigma negatively impacts a person and a community. For example, feeling stigmatized can reduce a person’s willingness to ask for help. However, positive words, or language, have the opposite effect. Positive language helps change our perceptions and beliefs about the world around us. How can we change our language to make a positive change in our community?
The Contest
Middle and high school youth in Gwinnett created visual representations of how changing your words can change your mindset. Eligible contest entries included digital artwork, photography or a photo of a physical art piece (such as a painting or drawing).
Our panel of judges were members on PAC-G’s Mental Wellness Task Force including representatives from View Point Health, Gwinnett County Public Schools, Live Healthy Gwinnett, DBHDD, GUIDE, NAMI Gwinnett and more.
Contest Results
Congratulations to Our Winners:
– 1st Place: Tithi Sutradhaar (Recipient of $100 Amazon gift card and art featured on billboard in Gwinnett for 5 weeks)
– 2nd Place: Gabriel Chacon Mendoza (Recipient of $50 Amazon gift card)
– 3rd Place: J’Myya Williams (Recipient of $25 Amazon gift card)
– Honorable Mentions: Molly-Ann Torsvik, Kai Powell
1st Place: Tithi Sutradhaar
2nd Place: Gabriel Chacon Mendoza
3rd Place: J’Myya Williams
Molly-Ann Torsvik
Kai Powell
September is National Suicide Prevention Month – a time to remember the lives lost to suicide, acknowledge the millions more who have experienced suicidal thoughts, and the many individuals, families and communities that have been impacted by suicide. It’s also a time to raise awareness about suicide prevention and share messages of hope. Learn more about this important cause awareness month via SAMHSA.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Amira Abdulhafid at amira@guideinc.org.