"The portrait promotes mental health awareness through the concept of a smile. A smile can change a person’s day. It can change the way someone feels. A smile can heal wounds."
Submitted by Gabriel Quiroz Luarte

"The colors on this piece were chosen to depict human emotion and the recovery of one’s self.
Throughout our lives as humans we experience emotions. This occurs when we are having a good day
or bad day, whether we lose someone important or lose someone we love, or even if we lose
ourselves due to an emotional experience which affected our mental health. This portrait
demonstrates my vision of human recovery through the colors and expressions which depict human
emotion."
Submitted by Gabriel Quiroz Luarte

"This work promotes Mental Health Awareness and wellness, from sharing my experience of emotional detachment and depression. The work is 4 different canvases that complete a self portrait, showing my story as I grow into an adult and allowing myself to reflect. The work displays my experience growing in a toxic masculine environment as a child, which forced me to conceal as much as I could and my only emotional release was my art."
Submitted by ​Ricardo Moctezuma

"While seemingly innocent, light, and airy; this painting holds a lot of meaning to me. My cousin loved pineapples and anything pink. She was a princess, but left this planet because one person had the power to make her believe otherwise. She took her life because she was in an emotionally abusive relationship where her happiness was robbed. Instead of showcasing the sadness, this painting remembers her as the bright and bubbly soul she was. This promotes wellness by reminding people to remember and celebrate your loved ones. Everyone talks about suicide prevention, but nobody tells you how to cope when it happens. We miss you Lorina."
​Submitted by ​Grace Solevilla-Moreno

"My reliable source of peace is Jesus. He is the Prince of Peace and the only source that can be instant, reliable and lasting." 
Submitted by Catherine Saldana

"This particular artwork, conveys the strength and survival of overcoming hardship. Hardship can be subjective, however this painting was created to represent the overcoming of personal battle which includes the various elements of mental health. The inspiration came from the journey of working through the loss of my best friend to suicide."
Submitted by ​Nicole Vargas

"My picture shows a reflection among a broken down scene - representing how we have to pick ourselves up and look inside when things shatter around us. I have struggled with depression in the past and have kept it at bay, but 2020 and COVID threatened to bring it back. I painted a burning tree, a storm and a broken down house, representing the challenges of 2020-2021 and I painted broken piece of mirror with my reflection in it as if I am picking myself up from the wreckage."
Submitted by ​Charmaine E Phipps

"My art is promoting Mental Health Awareness by trying to promote and learn what the signs depression and anxiety are; because some people are not good at expressing their emotions making them quiet to the world."
Submitted by ​Mary Cantoran

"It helps people to be mindful of art that is colorful. For people to see colors as a positive way to live."
Submitted by Gabriel Horne

In order to search our souls;
Do not be incredulous;
Reject the words of fear, of hate,
And of prejudice.

Always seeking the light,
And mysteries held in darkness,
And too oft, we are captive
Held by our own harnesses.

So searching what’s inside our soul,
Where nirvana has no toll,
I found my soul was always there,
And like a friend who never left,
My beloved soul really never slept.

Each person has a journey overcoming words
That keep us from taking flight like birds.
I have found a truth within and gave my soul the time
To live and thrive uniquely by my own design.

As when we are one with self, we will know perfection
We can be at peace with our very soul’s protection.

"​Acceptance of who we are and all we are, in which we find growth and self love."
Submitted by Virginia Paleno

"Not only is this piece close to home, but it is meant to promote bullying as a factor. And we all need a special friend no matter the circumstances. Bullying is a number 1 factor that challenges people lives everyday. Say no to racism, say no to bullying, say no assault. I think the description here is best said that we only have each other in very difficult situations and we as people do not stand alone. Digital illustration is meant to SPEAK NOW - better now than never."
Submitted by Stephytoons (Stephanie Valle)

"Flowers remind me of my mother who supported me through all my depression."
Submitted by Steven Kruse

"It takes my mind off of things at home, and brings me awareness and keeps my mind busy."
Submitted by Linda James

"The painting explores various ideas such as transformation, interior light, and healing. The monarch butterfly is the symbol of resiliency and the hand represents a proactive attitude in the direction of wellness."
Submitted by Belen Islas

"A young woman finds her escape in a smoky room, making tortillas on a hot, clay, wood-burning oven. The scene depicts calm and resignation amid the struggles of daily life, typical in Spanish-speaking America."
​Submitted by ​Marlyn Dinon

"Healthy faith has been an anchor to get me through various mental health issues, including grief, when my husband passed. My art piece is an artistic expression of who I am and who God says I am. It showcases faith and art, which continue to propel me forward and is appropriately interpreted as the following:
The face: The face is shaded because focus of beauty is not centered on outward, but inward. VIRTUOUS
Hair: I am beautifully natural and my hair type was chosen by God. AFFIRMING
Ear: I have an ear to hear what the Lord says. ATTENTIVE
Mouth: I am a mouthpiece for my generation, purposed to proclaim the Truth of who God is and who we are in Him. PURPOSE
Bottom three flower petals: these identify who I see myself as: The red flower is loving; the yellow/dark orange with lines is joyous/bright, but have gone through some dark situations that have not consumed me; and the black/white/lavender with curved lines represents being different, stand out from the crowd, creative and unique. SELF ESTEEM
The top four flower petals: Represents who God says I am: Top white and yellow = I am the light of the world. Red/Purple = I am loved by God and He is passionate in His pursuit towards me. White = I am pure and the green shrub: I am flourishing, planted and continually growing. IDENTITY"
Submitted by ​Jessica Poche

"I think my art would help someone be more calm. And I really hope that people like my art."
Submitted by Kennedy Knight 

"There are so many doors in life, and it is important to visit the one door that offers the healthiest of all life experiences, the one door that brings the most joy, the door that stores all the best of many memories, and the one door that helps encourage you and give you the most strength to over come adversities. Dedicated to Mental Health Month, may you always find the door to your happiness."
Submitted by ​Jhossa Jackson

"There’s a lot of stigma behind abortion. How can I be a mother who loves her kids and still have one? The truth is, I would have loved to have had another baby but in the middle of the pandemic, with so much uncertainty, I chose my children over my unplanned pregnancy. This painting which has taken me the three years, painting on each anniversary of my abortion and has helped me conceptualize my feelings. It’s still a loss, and I still grieve, even though I chose this and do not regret it. Like this painting, I am still nurturing and mourning; both things are true. My artwork promotes the mental health of mothers like me, who deal with these feelings in silence."
Submitted by ​Catherine Maldonado