One in four adults have experienced mental illness, and one in 10 children lives with a mental or emotional disorder. According to Mental Health America, even before COVID-19, mental illness and suicide rates were on the rise. Despite growing rates of mental illness, there’s still a stigma around mental health, resulting in people facing discrimination, feeling shame, and believing they must suffer in silence.
Southwest Health Behavioral Services (SBS) of Platteville, the behavioral health department of Southwest Health, is working to break the silence in their Say It Out Loud campaign to dispel the stigma and connect people with the help they need.
The Say It Out Loud theme is a research-based slogan, dispelling the common misperceptions about mental illness and creating opportunities for meaningful dialogue. “The best way to chase old myths away is to share experiences. Mental health issues are very real and can happen to absolutely anyone. The right help can truly change lives. Each time any of us is courageous enough to share our stories through our art or other ways, we make our communities a little stronger.” says Behavioral Health Administrative Director Jennifer Barraza.
Say It Out Loud is an annual art competition open to the public during May, National Mental Health Month. Artwork is accepted from April 1 through May 29, and entries will be featured in Southwest Health facilities throughout the year to raise awareness.
CONTEST RULES
- The competition theme, Say It Out Loud,must appear in the work.
- Participants must be age six or older and live in Grant, Iowa, or Lafayette County.
- Accepted art media includes posters (pencil, oil, pastel, computer-generated made on paper, canvas, or another medium), original photography, sculpture, video, short essay, or poetry.
- All participants receive a Say It Out Loud bracelet.Competition prizes include $100 for 1st place, $50 for 2nd place, and $25 for 3rd place.
- Entry forms and artwork deadline are May 29, 2026, at 4:30 PM, delivered to Southwest Health Behavioral Services at 1450 Eastside Road in Platteville, Wisconsin.
- Entry forms can be picked up at SBS in Platteville at the above address and are available online to print at Southwesthealth.org/say-it-out-loud-art-contest.
- Artwork showing graphic material or violence will not be publically displayed
- All art will be retained and used by Southwest Health and not returned to the artist.
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