“CelebratePositive Mental Health”

World Mental Health Day 2012 Photography Competition

Background

The Health Improvement Department of the Western Health and Social Care Trust (WHSCT) is welcoming applications from budding local photographers to enter our first ever photography competition to mark World Mental Health Day,10th October 2012.

The theme is “Celebrate Positive Mental Health”

Positive Mental Health ishow we think, feel and relate to ourselves and others and how we interpret the world around us. Having good Mental Health affects our capacity to manage,communicate, and form and sustain relationships. It also affects our ability to cope with change and major life events such as the birth of a new baby, bereavement, job loss or divorce.

Anyone can suffer from mental health issues. In fact, statistics show that one in four people in Northern Ireland will experience Mental Health problems at some point in their lives.

Criteria

The theme “Celebrate Positive Mental Health”is open to individual interpretation. Think of images, whether they are in colour or,black and white;people; things or places to represent what positive mental health means to you.

Photograph the things that make you feel happy that others may otherwise miss in their busy day-to-day lives.

All photographs will be judged on the following criteria

  • Relevance to Mental Health (25 points)
  • How image meets the theme (25 points)
  • Personal statement on what image means to them (25 points)
  • Creativity (25 points)

Size of photographs: There is no limit to the size of images you may send in, but we would suggest either,8” by 6” or A4 size.

Photos can be either landscape or portrait, the choice is yours. Entries will be judged on the quality of the image, not the quality of the printing.

Additional information for applicants

Image manipulation:Digital manipulation of photos is permitted but please do not digitally enhance or alter your photographs beyond the basics needed to achieve realistic colour balance and sharpness. Cropping is alsoacceptable.

Photos entered in other competitions:Any entries to this competition must not have been offered for sale or have won other competitions.

WHSCT area:The WHSCT area comprises of Fermanagh District Council, Omagh District Council, Strabane District Council, Derry City Council, Limavady Borough Council. The competition is open to photographers living or working within the WHSCT area.

Age categories:There is a prize for best photograph from under 18’s. Entrants under the age of 12 years need to have parent or guardian consent to enter.

Submission of entry we require:

  • A hard copy of your photograph
  • A digital copy of the photoin JPEG or TIFF format savedonto a CD or emailed to marked ‘Celebrate Positive Mental Health Competition’
  • A personal statement in no more than 50 words to describe what the image means to you and your mental health
  • Age (if applying for under 18’s award).If under 12 years, parental consent

Write your name, address and a daytime telephone contact number on the back of your photograph or in the main body of the email and CD with a note of where it was taken. Send to:

‘Celebrate Positive Mental Health Competition’

Health Improvement Department, WHSCT

Maple Villa B

Gransha Park

Londonderry

BT47 6WJ

Unfortunately photographs cannot be returned once submitted.

Closing date

Closing date for entries is World Mental Health Day, Wednesday 10th October.

Winning entries will be notified by Wednesday17th October 2012.

Prize details

There are 4 prizes which consist ofJessops vouchers
First Prize -£250

Second prize - £150

Third Prize - £100

Under 18’s prize - £150
Winning photographs will go on display at the Magee Mental Health Conference on 24th and 25th October 2012 and will be reproduced in WHSCT publications.

The finalists will appear in the local press, WHSCT Now Magazine, WHSCT website and Facebook page.

Commendation certificates will be awarded to runners up who have shown creativity.

For further information please contact:

Debbie Hunter

Health Improvement Officer for Mental Health and Emotional Well-being

Tel: 028 7186 5127

Email: