New Hampshire Youth Mental Health Art Contest, Magnify Voices, Draws Record Entries

NEW HAMPSHIRE — A youth art contest centered on mental health drew a record number of submissions this year, with the eighth annual Magnify Voices Expressive Art contest receiving 76 entries from 80 young people across New Hampshire.

The contest, an initiative of the New Hampshire Children’s System of Care, was held during Mental Health Awareness Month in May and recognized finalists on May 27 at Kingswood Art Center in Wolfeboro.

Students in fifth through 12th grades from 36 towns submitted videos, essays, poetry, drawings, and paintings. The contest is intended to elevate youth voices, reduce stigma, and support change around youth mental health. A panel of judges selected 12 finalists for special recognition and a $250 cash prize at the Wolfeboro celebration event.

“This year, NAMI National’s Mental Health Awareness Month theme is: Stigma grows in silence. Healing begins in community,” Deb Jurkoic, NH Family Network Coordinator for NAMI New Hampshire and a Magnify Voices committee member, said. “That idea of community is exactly what brings us together for this event. By sharing their stories, Magnify Voices participants are breaking the silence. In doing so, this advances CSoC’s mission to amplify youth perspectives to improve mental health, reduce stigma, and inspire hope and change.”

During the event, attendees voted for the People’s Choice Award. Hannah Stone, the 2025 People’s Choice Award winner, announced the result.

“When we share our stories through art, we give others the opportunity to feel, understand, and heal,” she said. “Without creativity and the courage to speak up, our world would lose so much compassion, empathy and light.”

The 2026 People’s Choice Award went to Sophia for her piece “Bright Side.” In her submission, Sophia wrote, “In the past few years, I've struggled with depression and overthinking how others feel about me. It's always left me stuck in a shadow of my own judgment of myself, but I've stopped caring so much about how others perceive me and I've started seeing the brighter side of things.”

According to the org, one in five U.S. youth and more than one in seven children experience a mental health condition each year. CSoC launched Magnify Voices in 2019, and more than 600 creative works have been submitted since then. The Magnify Voices Roadshow will bring the 2026 art to exhibits and events around the state.

The 2026 finalists were:

Written

• “The Body” by Charlotte
• “Dear Father” by AJ

Visual

• “Above the Dark Waters” by Brynn
• “Anger Howls, Anxiety Listens” by Emma
• “Interpret as You Will” by Linda
• “Lamb in Wolf’s Skin” by Evan
• “The Light Within” by Hannah
• “The Night After” by Bennett
• “Out of Reach” by Anna
• “The Purest Heart” by Parker
• “Striped for Life” by Marilyn

Video

• “To Fill Your Bucket” by Lindsey, Jadeis, Brynn, and Caroline

For more information or to view the 2026 submissions and finalists, visit NHCSoC.org/Magnify-Voices.