INFORMATION & GUIDELINES
2024 ~ This year's theme is writing an essay on...
'Cyberbullying, Online Anonymity, and Mental Health'
... before the 7th of OCTOBER!
The erosion of privacy in today's digital landscape has significant implications for teen mental health. Adolescence is a critical developmental stage where individuals are navigating their identities, exploring their interests, and forming relationships. Online anonymity can encourage free expression but also facilitates harmful behaviors like cyberbullying due to reduced accountability. This emboldens bullies, perpetuating harassment and making intervention difficult. Victims often suffer from anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and social withdrawal, which can lead to chronic stress and long-term psychological issues, especially among youth.
The fear of being judged or ostracized based on their online activities can lead to heightened stress and a sense of inadequacy. The pressure to maintain a curated online presence, combined with the fear of privacy breaches, can strain teenagers' mental well-being, leading to increased levels of stress, depression, and alarmingly, cyberbullying. It is essential to address online safety concerns and promote a healthy digital environment that respects the mental well-being of teenagers.
Questions for Consideration:
- What are the impacts of Anonymity and Cyberbullying?
- How has online activity impacted your life?
- What changes could be made to modern society to increase awareness of online issues or youth mental health protection?
Information
Writing holds great power and can influence public opinion about people with mental illness in positive and negative ways. People’s attitudes can reinforce stigma and lead to discrimination, which is a barrier to recovery and being able to live a full life.
When handled well, writing about mental health can:
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change public misconceptions
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challenge myths and educate people about mental health
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change attitudes that reinforce mental illness stigma and lead to discrimination
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encourage people in distress to seek help
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support hope and recovery.
When handled poorly, writing about mental health can:
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make it less likely that people experiencing mental distress will ask for help
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mislead the public about what experiences of mental illness and mental health care are like
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reinforce misguided beliefs that people living with a mental illness are dangerous and to be feared
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increase feelings of shame and isolation for people experiencing distress.
CHECKLIST:
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Language: Words can help or hurt others. Use language that promotes inclusivity and reduces stigma and discrimination.
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Sources: Information about mental illness, treatments and the sector are changing constantly. For reliable, accurate and up-to-date information consult widely with experts in the sector and the Mental Health Foundation.
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Balance: Include the voice of people who have experience of mental illness and/or use mental health services, along with their whānau, support people, kaumātua or kuia where relevant. Also consider showing people as more than their illness.
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Cultural sensitivities: Ensure different cultural worldviews on mental health and wellbeing are considered. Seek expert cultural opinion or perspective from kaumātua, kuia and Pasifika mātua
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Helplines: Include appropriate helpline numbers to support help-seeking.
Rules and Requirements:
In order to keep this competition safe and respectful, all essay submissions must follow the media guidelines. If a submitted essay does not comply with these guidelines, the entry will be subject to disqualification.
- The competition is open to all Australian students aged between 13-18, at the time of the submission.
- Essays need to be under the 800 word limit and entries are open NOW. The deadline for entries is October 7th, 2024.
- Participation in the competition is free. Each participant is limited to one entry.
- The guidelines must be read before submission. If an essay does not comply, it may be subject to disqualification.
- One winner and one runner up will be selected, and finalists will receive honourable mentions.
- Winners will be announced during October 2024. Winners will receive a prize, provided by our sponsors and their essays - along with those of finalists - will be shared on the AMHAEC website.
- By making an entry, participants are giving AMHAEC the right to share their essays with the wider community.
