Student wins Mental Health Ireland photography competition

STUDENT Willow McConville from Mount Saint Michael Secondary School in Claremorris has been announced as the national winner of the Mental Health Ireland Photography Post-Primary Competition.

Her photo of the word ‘anxiety’ in the dictionary was different from every other entry. The judges liked her photo as it involved imagination and an issue affecting more and more students.

Two more local students were chosen as provincial winners in both the art and photography competition. Tara Hannick, Jesus and Mary Secondary School, was the Connaught provincial winner for art and Katherine Smith of St. Joseph's Secondary School, Castlebar, won the Connaught award for photography.

Six Mayo students were highly commended: Olivia Diamond, Jesus and Mary Secondary School, Jennifer Rattigan and Siobhan Gayer from Mount St Michael’s Secondary School, and Brian Joyce and James Keane, Rice College, Westport.

The theme for the competition was ‘Mind Your Mental Health’. Issues including anxiety, self-harm and depression can be difficult for teenagers to talk about. The feedback from teachers and students has been that this competition opened up a space for the students to think about their own mental health and those around them.