Two Mayo students are provincial winners in Mental Health Ireland competition

OVER 1,500 Irish students drew and photographed what mental health means to them following a call for entries into Mental Health Ireland’s Art & Photography Competition.

Bella Quinn, St. Joseph’s Secondary, Castlebar, and Brian Joyce, Rice College, Westport, were awarded Provincial Winners in Art for Bella and Photography for Brian at this year’s awards ceremony.

Both entries stood out immediately as winners and both will appear in Mental Health Ireland’s 2019 calendar.

Issues including anxiety, stress and depression can be difficult for teenagers to talk about. Feedback from teachers and students was this competition opened up a space for the students to think about their own mental health and those around them.

Martin Rogan, CEO Mental Health Ireland, said: “Young people in Ireland have taken a great interest in mental health and this is very obvious from the entries we have received this year. They are not just interested in their own mental health but show interest in supporting others. This competition creates a platform for discussion that provokes and evokes a deeper conversation”.

“The standard of work received was at a very high level in both categories and we were delighted to host our Exhibition in Dublin City Council to showcase the top 45 entries from all over Ireland.”

The exhibition and award ceremony took place last week in Dublin City County on Wood Quay with students and their families travelling from all over Ireland to attend.

Mental Health Ireland had the support of esteemed artist Lisa Butterly in selecting the winning entries for Art and support from Rosaleen Heavin for Photography.