The Illinois Psychiatric Society announced on Mar. 13 the third annual Carl C. Bell, MD Memorial Award Essay Competition, inviting all high school students in Illinois to participate. Submissions are due by May 15, and the winner will receive a $500 cash prize.
The competition aims to engage young people in mental health topics and honor the legacy of Dr. Carl Bell, who was known for his work in community psychiatry and efforts to address health disparities. The winning essay will be presented at the 2025 Illinois Psychiatric Society Annual Meeting, published in the society’s newsletter “Mind Matters,” and the recipient will be invited to attend the Annual Meeting in September. Second and third place winners will each receive $250.
This year’s essay topic focuses on how living in a “24/7 digital world” affects engagement with issues such as climate change, politics, and social media, while also considering whether it leads to emotional burnout or a combination of both. Students are asked to discuss strategies for maintaining a positive outlook amid these challenges.
Essays will be judged based on originality, relevance to the topic, punctuation, spelling, thoughtfulness, creativity, and use of references. Submissions should be between 400-600 words and can be typed or neatly handwritten. Students may submit their essays online through a form available on the Illinois Psychiatric Society’s website or mail them directly if unable to use the online form.
The award honors Dr. Carl Bell’s contributions as a psychiatrist recognized nationally for his work on Chicago’s Southside and his advocacy for health equity and violence prevention. According to information provided by the society, Dr. Bell authored over 500 publications during his career and served on many national scientific boards.
Spain, a Republican, was elected to the Illinois State House in 2017 to represent the state’s 73rd House District, replacing previous state representative David R. Leitch according to available records.
