My submission is about two friends sitting on a bench and one is going through mental health problems. The one on the right struggles with stress and anxiety which has caused him to feel depressed. The person on the left wants to help out his friend by talking to him about what he’s going through and how he can help. This shows that young people can take action by reaching out to the ones they care about who are going through mental struggles and giving them support.
This is how I see me, and how I see my friends. Instead of how they look, see them as they are. Some are quiet, some are shy, but we are all creative and confident. we accept each other as we are… funny, loyal, smart and a bit goofy. We can share about anything, even reach out if we need help. That gives us all hope.
My artwork shows one person handing a “text HOPE” card to another person. The piece is meant to show how offering help, or where to get help and noticing when someone needs it is really important and can shed light on a dark situation. The person at the top of the frame is in bright colors that show happiness and seem to glow. This is in direct contrast to the blue and gray tones on the second person, who, in addition to lying on the table, is drawn in dark colors and surrounded by other shades of gray. The ribbon, bracelet, and card are all references to mental health awareness and resources.
As someone who struggles with mental health disabilities, this prompt really spoke to me. I know what it’s like to have depression, anxiety, and ADHD, it can feel overwhelming, as if there’s no hope and you’re drowning from sorrow and fear, with no chance of escaping. I tried to portray these feelings in the drowning girl, who is desperately grasping for help. Above the water is another girl wearing a lime green ribbon in her hair, and lime green dress, this girl represents hope, which is unreachable to depression, but still trying. Around the two girls are green butterflies that stand for freedom, hope, and peace. While making this art piece, I felt what the butterflies represent; at peace with myself, hope for the future, and freedom from my burdens, and I hope that is displayed in my work.
The red-haired character picks up on her friend’s anxious and stressed body language. because of this, she gently confronts her friend about the tension she has noticed. She even offers talking online as a more comfortable approach to talking about her stress. The two talk online and discuss the purple-haired girl’s stress cause, and how she can be helped. In the end, she is much less stressed, because her friend gave her resources to call when she needs (hotlines), a playlist to listen to, and healthy coping methods, as well as listening to her. This applies to the “check-in-chat” theme, because the friend notices tension, brings it up and talks to her+gives her ways to deal with stress.
My entry shows a girl releasing a bird, which flies out from her hands. This drawing conveys how I felt when one of my close friends moved away few years ago. I felt like I had let go of her, and for a while I was sad. However, I soon learned that our connection couldn’t be severed so easily by mere distance. We could still talk over text, and even though it isn’t as good as being able to see each other in person, it is better than nothing. I also hold onto hope for the future. When we become older and gain independence, perhaps we can see each other again. And I’m willing to work hard until that day comes.
My submission Angel Peer vs. Devil Peer compares and contrasts the effects or accepting, or denying peer pressure. One side features an angel peer where the teenager rejects peer pressure and maintains a happy healthy state. The other side features a devil peer where the teenager accepts peer pressure and lives in an unhealthy and depressed state.
I drew a digital news article which discusses the bad treatment Palestinians are facing. For the main “article” art piece I drew the Palestinian flag, with the keffiyeh pattern, which is worn by many people showing their support for Palestine, and a child hurling a stone with a slingshot, which shows that children are trying to protect their country against soldiers and tanks that threaten them, inside the silhouette of the country Palestine. I also included some writing explaining some horrific events that have occurred in Palestine.
I included an “advertisement” which has the Uyghur flag behind a woman wearing a mask that has China’s flag as a hand covering the mouth, the Uyghur flag signifying how China is oppressing and capturing the Uyghur people. The Chinese government even went as far as saying that they want to “nip terrorist activities in the bud” (China’s Repression of Uyghurs in Xinjiang). Not only is this Islamophobia, but what they are doing is a terroristic act because they have committed the genocide of many Uyghurs.
My art piece is about mental health awareness. Some who struggle with mental health issues may feel like they are trapped, but there is hope. The thick fog that you may feel lost in can be overcome, as you are your own light.
Content warning: About violence and contains content that might be activating. “I wanted to discuss both violence and concerns related to mental health. Violence in the workplace, in schools, and even online has been a common concern over the years, and it still occurs every day. I made this piece because I wish those who are suffering to keep looking for help and for more mental health services to be readily available. Because I am aware that there are still countless victims out there who have not yet dared to confront abuse and seek assistance because they are too afraid and suffer from severe anxiety and sadness. As a result, the victim experiences psychological issues, and many victims—particularly young people with promising futures—decide to take their life because they don’t know how to get help. I thus painted a girl with bumps and wounds in my artwork. This depicts a girl who was subjected to both physical and psychological abuse, but who instead of taking her own life, chose to seek help from others.”