May 1, 2025

Submit your creative pieces by Friday, May 2 to be considered! We can't wait to see how young minds bring their emotions to life in a way that fosters understanding and promotes mental wellness.

The Massachusetts Association for Mental Health (MAMH) is thrilled to announce the return of the Mental Health Matters: Student Expression Contest for its fifth year! This annual event invites middle and high school students from across the Commonwealth to creatively explore and express their perspectives on mental health.

This year’s theme, "The Colors of Emotion," encourages students to use abstract forms, ideas, and, of course, color to convey different emotions and their personal journey toward mental well-being. Whether through words, graphics, fine art, or digital creations, we want to see how young minds bring their emotions to life in a way that fosters understanding and promotes mental wellness.

Submission Details:

  • Who Can Enter? Middle and high school students (grades 6-12) in Massachusetts.
  • What Can You Submit? Written works, graphic art, fine art (drawings, paintings, collages), or digital creations.
  • Deadline: All submissions are due by Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Winning entries will be announced during May is Mental Health Month and showcased to celebrate the creativity and insight of students across the state. This contest is not only an opportunity to elevate artistic talents but also a chance to raise awareness, start conversations, and promote a positive approach to mental health.

We can’t wait to see how you express colors of emotion! Start creating today and help make mental health matter!

Want to help promote the contest or share with your students? Share or print this flyer!

A dark outline of an individual with headphones on, the background features blue and purple mountains before a yellow red sky, musical notes float through the sky.
Two female-presenting individuals hold each other and smile against a pink striped background, text above and below their embrace reads "reach out" "mental health matters," a speech bubble containing a heart is attributed to the individual on the right

Caption Two winning submissions from the 2024 student expression contest.

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