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Mental Health Ireland

Firstly, Mental Health Ireland is a national voluntary organisation which was established in 1966
as the Mental Health Association of Ireland. Mental Health Ireland promotes positive mental
health and wellbeing to all individuals and communities, and through their network of Mental
Health Associations, they support people who experience mental health difficulties on their
journey of recovery.
Mental Health Ireland have multiple events that bring in the community providing a great
platform to bring awareness to all such as fun runs, stress control courses and many more . As
well as that they hold art and photography competition for their annual calendar.
As part of our art class we were asked by our teacher to come up with one or two rough ideas for
the Mental Health Ireland Art Competition.

This year’s theme for the competition is ‘Mind Your Mental Health’. I went home that evening
and decided to do a little research for this theme starting with a few images and a few chosen
quotes. Now with my repertoire of images I put together a composition of something that I feel
greatly will be suitable for such a theme. Unknowingly, that my competition entry would win the
Provincial Ulster title I submitted it anticipating nothing back.

A few weeks went by and I totally forgot about it until my teacher emailed me the night before
saying she wanted to speak to me the morning after. Amusingly enough, as a student you would
think you’re in trouble if you were to receive this. So that morning, my teacher presented me with
the marvellous news that I won the title of Ulster provincial winner. The news too was announced
during morning assembly.
I was very pleased attaining such news and my composition will appear in Mental Health Irelands
2017 calendar along with the other provincial winners and the winners in the photography
category. As well as that they will hold an art exhibition to celebrate the efforts of the winning
submission and a number of highly commended submissions so everyone’s hard work will be
seen by all.
Finally, I will be attending an award ceremony on the 27th of April 2016 for the competition along
with the national winners and other provincial winners.

Keziah Mahiya

The Royal Times 2015-2016 49