Suicide Prevention Scholarship Contest

As part of its continued effort to create a healthy and hopeful Montana, Shodair hosted a statewide Suicide Prevention Awareness initiative inviting middle and high schoolers from the state to submit an essay, a video, or artwork addressing suicide and mental health with the hope of winning one of the four $2,500 prizes.

The topic of suicide and mental health has often been taboo in the past and this is one way Shodair hopes to normalize conversations of this very real topic. Since its origination, the contest has had a positive reception by teens across the state and has gained momentum in participation since it began in 2019. The hospital hopes to continue with this trajectory to reach more students and families than ever before. This coming year submissions will be accepted in early 2023 with winners announced in May for Mental Health month.

Thanks to many statewide businesses and organizations Shodair awards $10,000 in scholarships through this opportunity to encourage students to engage in critical thinking and speaking up about mental health, suicide prevention, decreasing the stigma, and how to unite with hope.

A panel of six judges outside of Shodair reviewed each submission across the various categories thoroughly and judged based on the level of messaging, how impactful the piece was, and the project’s creativity in response to this year’s theme: What impact has the pandemic had on the mental health of youth? The submissions received created a space for deeper understanding, inspired hope, and depicted the often-harsh realities of what it is like for those who struggle with mental health difficulties and suicidal thoughts.

“Youth suicide rates in Montana are nearly double the national average and we want to do all we can to change that,” said Craig Aasved, CEO of Shodair Children’s Hospital. “One first step in suicide prevention and breaking down stigma is creating a safe place for conversations and a platform for young people to share their story. This contest is yet another way we are continuing to meet our mission, to heal, help, and inspire hope with the continued help from our stakeholders.”

This year’s winners are featured in this article with the theme:

What impact has the pandemic had on the mental health of youth.

Visual Category:

Megan Frank, Glendive High School

Essay Category:

Olivia Huber, Helena High School

Video Category:

Quin Vulk, Helena Capital High School

Judge’s Choice:

Leiah Nelson, Bigfork High School