Youth Mental Health Art Contest
Each year, RiverValley Behavioral Health hosts its Youth Mental Health Art Contest, inviting youth throughout our 7-county region to share messages of hope and mental health awareness through artistic expression with the theme, “Be Kind to Your Mind.”
The contest originated in May 2021 during the pandemic as a way to promote mental health awareness among youth and show a message of support for their peers. During the first four years of the contest, RVBH has received more than 1,500 art submissions and has awarded more than $20,000 worth of scholarship funds and donations throughout our school districts.
How Does it Work?
Students in grades K-College who live or attend school in our seven-county region in Kentucky (Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, McLean, Ohio, Union, and Webster counties) are invited to create and submit a visual art piece (drawing, painting, sculpture, poem, etc.) to share a message of support with the theme, “Be Kind to Your Mind.”
A $500 scholarship is awarded to the project of the year winner in each division, K-4; 5-8; 9-12; and college (ages 18-24), and a matching contribution awarded to the school or nonprofit organization chosen by the winners. The school or organization with the most entries is named, “Mental Health Partner of the Year,” with an award of $1,000.
All entries must include a completed submission form, which will be accessible beginning in February. Finalists are announced at the end of May during Mental Health Awareness Month and invited to our annual Youth Mental Health Art Contest Awards Ceremony in June!
View or download the 2025 Youth Mental Health Art Contest submission form by clicking below! For questions or more information, email [email protected]
Check Out 2024 Winners
RIVERVALLEY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ACCEPTING ART CONTEST SUBMISSIONS
RiverValley Behavioral Health has launched its 2024 Youth Mental Health Art Contest.
The annual contest, which began in 2021, encourages area youth to express messages of hope while raising awareness about mental health through artistic expression. This year’s contest theme is “Be Kind to Your Mind.”
“We’ve had such a great response to the contest, and it seems like each year word about it spreads further and further,” said Brooke Arnold, director of RVBH’s Regional Prevention Center. “It’s always incredible to see what youths come up with and all of the talent we have in our region. It’s phenomenal.”
Dianne McFarling Memorial Award
The Dianne McFarling Memorial Award was introduced in June 2022 to honor an organization, business, nonprofit, charity, school, group or individual in our seven counties in Kentucky (Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, McLean, Ohio, Union, and Webster counties) that has demonstrated a commitment to improving mental health in our communities.
The award commemorates the work of the late Dianne McFarling, who served as the Senior Director of RiverValley’s Regional Prevention Center for 21 years before her untimely passing in October 2021.
RiverValley accepts nominations for the Dianne McFarling Memorial Award throughout the art contest submission period and presents the award annually at the Youth Mental Health Art Contest Awards Ceremony in June.
To make a nomination for the Dianne McFarling Memorial Award, click below!