CNS students win artwork competition to promote good mental health for young people
Congratulations to CNS students Aiden, Thia and Jospeh who have all been awarded special commendations for their artwork entered into an art competition run by Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust ahead of Mental Health Awareness Week, which runs all this week.
Local school students were invited by the Trust to create works of art that would encourage a positive mental outlook. The “Be Yourself” project aims to raise awareness of mental health among young people and help brighten the lives of children using its services.
The three winners were chosen from 20 finalists whose pictures have all gone on display at Mary Chapman House, which is where the Trust’s Under 14’s Children, Families and Young People’s Service (CFYP) is based.
A number of CNS students entered the competition which was judged by Emma Bosier, a psychiatry trainee in the CFYP team, and Sarah Harley, Art Psychotherapist.
Emma Bosier, Psychiatry Trainee at Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“The competition had two aims. Firstly, we wanted to raise awareness of mental health among young people, and involving local students in an art competition on the theme ‘Be Yourself’ seemed a good way to get them thinking about what mental health means to them.
“Also, the waiting area at Mary Chapman House is the first place young people accessing our services see when they come into the building. It’s already got a child-friendly look, but we wanted to add artwork created by young people to help teenagers feel even more comfortable in the surroundings.”
Jo Philpott, Headteacher at CNS, said:
“I am delighted that our students’ work is being celebrated in this way and all of us at CNS fully support the aims of Mental Health Awareness Week in drawing attention to an issue that affects many young people.
“We encourage our students to feel comfortable about opening up and believe very strongly that this culture of openness helps with their educational success, as well as offering young people a much greater chance of leading a fulfilled life as a successful adult.”
From left to right : Aiden, Joseph, Emma Bosier and Thia Copy. Copyright NSFT
The winning artwork. Copyright NSFT