Peoria Standard

The Illinois Psychiatric Society (IPS) is offering a unique opportunity for high school students in Illinois to showcase their writing skills and win cash prizes through the Carl C. Bell, MD Memorial Award Essay Competition. According to the Mar 13, 2024 announcement, the competition is open to all high school students in Illinois, with submissions due on June 1, 2024.

The top prize for the essay contest is a $500 cash prize, along with the honor of having the winning submission presented at the 2024 IPS Annual Meeting and published in the official IPS newsletter, "Mind Matters." As stated, the second and third place award recipients will also receive cash prizes of $250 each.

This year's essay prompt focuses on the impact of social media on mental health, challenging students to explore how social media has influenced not only their own mental well-being but also that of their social networks, family, schools, and communities. Papers will be evaluated based on various criteria such as originality, relevance to the topic, punctuation, spelling, thoughtfulness, creativity, and the use of references.

The guidelines specify that submissions should be no more than 400-600 words in length, double-spaced, and typed in font size 12. However, handwritten essays are also accepted as long as they are neat and legible. Students are encouraged to complete the submission form on the ISP website, but alternative submission methods are available for those unable to access the online form. If mailing in a physical copy of the essay, participants are required to include their full name, address, contact email address and phone number, age, grade, school district, and name of the school.

This initiative by the Illinois Psychiatric Society not only provides a platform for high school students to express their thoughts on an important topic but also offers them the chance to win cash prizes and gain recognition for their writing skills. With the deadline approaching on June 1, 2024, students across Illinois are encouraged to participate and share their perspectives on the impact of social media on mental health.