Since 1949, May has been designated as Mental Health Awareness Month. It is a time designated to raise our awareness of the need to look after our mental well being. To mark the occasion of Mental Health Awareness Month, Alternatives and North Central Human Services have sponsored a bookmark design contest with 5th and 6th 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 card 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 from throughout Central Massachusetts are:

Nadia Badenhausen and Annie Deya, Fitchburg Arts Academy, Fitchburg
Macy Celona and Savanha Thebodeau, Elm Street School, Gardner
Brandon David and Lilianna Cruz, Belmont Street School, Worcester
Rickey Webster and Khaled Edmonds, Chandler Community Elementary School, Worcester
Ruth Colon and Joseph Appiah, Goddard School, Worcester
Sara Silva and Andrew Dague, Stacy Middle School, Milford
Nicole Spinelli and Engy Agaiby, Hopedale Memorial Elementary School, Hopedale
Cali Bloem and Victoria Afonso, Northbridge Middle School, Northbridge
Corine Shannon and Krysten Boyer, Whitin Middle School, Uxbridge
Shannon McDermott and Matthew Papineau, A. F. Maloney School, Blackstone

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," says Alternatives' Executive Director Dennis H. 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.