Get involved · Competitions

Say it in your words.

Our competitions are open calls with a theme and a deadline: write it, draw it, make it. Winning work gets judged, featured across NHA, published under your name, and recognized. You don't need to be in a chapter, or an expert. You just need something true to say.

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The Youth Voices Prize: “What I wish they knew.”

Essay & art · open to students everywhere

What's the one thing about your mental health, or how your mind works, that you wish the people around you understood? Answer it in an essay or a piece of art. Honest beats polished. There's no single right way to respond, and no wrong feeling to have.

Theme

What I wish they knew

Mental health or neurodivergence, in your own voice.

Formats

Essay or art

An essay (about 300–800 words) or a single original artwork, with a short note.

Prizes

Featured, published, recognized

Winners are published under their name across NHA, recognized, and awarded prizes for the top entries.

Entries are open now. The first judging deadline will be announced here, so enter early. One entry per person per format.

Enter the prize →

How it works

How to enter.

Read the theme

Each competition has one prompt. Respond however feels true to you.

Enter on-site

Paste your essay or upload your art, right here. No account needed.

We judge fairly

Entries are read and reviewed for honesty and impact. No credentials needed.

Winners shine

Top work is featured across NHA, published with your name, and recognized.

Looking to submit ongoing work outside a competition? Share an article or artwork anytime.

Enter

Submit your entry.

Paste an essay or upload your art. By entering, you confirm the work is your own and you're okay with NHA featuring it, with your name, if it wins.

Keeping it safe

Everything is reviewed before anything is shown. Please don't include personal details you wouldn't want published. In crisis? Our crisis resources are here for you first.

Enter the prize

Submit your entry

Essay or art. No account needed, just enter.

Winners

The wall of winners.

Once the first prize wraps, winning essays and art will live here, with the people who made them.

Nothing to show yet, this is a brand-new prize. Enter now and you could be the first name on this wall.

Be the first →