Current high school students (grades 9-12), must include teacher or counselor contact information for verification, cannot be a past winner
None required,
but mention of real-life actions/impact is encouraged
Personal, reflective
500-1,000 words
(flexible if content is essential)
Mental health, psychology
January
The Teen Change-Maker Essay Contest is for high school students passionate about mental health advocacy, peer support, and social change. This contest offers an opportunity for young writers to reflect on their personal experiences with mental health and explore how those experiences have inspired them to foster more open and supportive environments at school and in their communities.
This contest was organized around the belief that mental health education is most effective when it begins in youth. The contest encourages students to think and reflect about their influence as leaders and change-makers.
The consulting team at J&B invites students to embrace vulnerability, write with purpose, and promote social advocacy.
2025
How have your mental health experiences helped you to create a supportive and open mental health environment with your peers, within and outside of your high school?
