High School Essay Contest

We believe that mental health education is most effective when it begins in our youth.

Each year we host an essay contest for teenagers where we ask them to do research on a particular topic and then perform a specific activity to foster mental health awareness in their communities. Right now, submissions are closed, but we look forward to reading more essays in Fall 2022!

IBPF’s High School Essay Contest

2021 Topic: We All Have Mental Health… How Can Students’ Mental Health Be Supported Virtually and In-Person?

Connect with your peers virtually to understand what is needed to support their mental health during this time. Create a virtual mental health campaign or program, including how you would implement it, by working with your school staff such as, principal, counseling office, and teacher(s).

Eligibility

Must be a current high school student in 9th to 12th grade.
Must provide your high school teacher or counselors information for verification.

Essays should be between 500 and 1,000 words but will not be penalized for surpassing the word count if the content is deemed an essential part of the student’s message.

Prizes

We are pleased to announce that 3 winners will receive cash prizes ($1,000, $500, $250) and their letters used as a template for future advocacy that will be featured on our website.