REGION — Since 1949, May has been designated as Mental Health Awareness Month.

It is a time designated to raise awareness of the need to look after our mental well-being.

To mark the occasion of Mental Health Awareness Month, Alternatives sponsored a bookmark design contest with fifth and sixth graders in schools within the agency’s Central Massachusetts service area. The students are challenged to incorporate one of three slogans, “Mind your mind,” “Peace of mind” or “Feed your mind” into designs for the front of the bookmark. The reverse of the car contains tips on taking care of our mental health such as the importance of a balanced diet, exercise and making time in each day to relax.

In all, 10 schools throughout central Massachusetts participated in the contest. Each school chose two winning designs based on color, content and creativity. Winning designs were then printed and made available to the community.

Winning students in the Blackstone Valley area are Shannon McDermott and Matthew Papineau, of the A.F. Maloney School in Blackstone, Cali Bloem and Victoria Afonso, of Northbridge Middle School, and Corine Shannon and Krysten Boyer, of Whitin Middle School, Uxbridge. Winners received a $50 savings bond and their name and their schools name printed on the bookmarks.

“With the increased stress of daily life continually mounting, “ said Alternatives Executive Director Dennis Rice, “We all have to take more care of our mental well being. This contest is a fun way to get a very serious message out to the public.”

The winning bookmark designs are available at the participating school libraries and the public libraries in towns whose schools participated. They can also be viewed on Alternatives’ website.