The contest is the first action of the Shining In The Darkness (BELO) movement, which aims to help combat the stigma of mental disorders in society.
Promoted by the Europamundo Foundation and The Rotary Foundation Club Madrid Corporate, in collaboration with CaixaBank, LEALTIC Transformación Digital, Hermanas Hospitalarias, the AMAFE association, the Universitas XXI International Foundation, the Good Samaritan Foundation, and other institutions and companies that join every day, this first edition of the contest (2024) wants to make known the emotions felt by people who suffer or have suffered from mental disorders in the “illness” type, through sharing their creations and emotions.
The human creativity that manifests itself in a particularly striking way in situations of intense emotion and deep experiences. Love, loneliness, suffering, anguish…
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Objectives
To help combat the stigma surrounding mental health problems, showing that these problems are as normal as health problems in general and as human as the emotions that lead to them, that anyone is subject to them, and that, like any organ, the mind needs care.
- Humanize and normalize the experiences of people with mental illness.
- To help overcome the stigma that exists in society.
- To offer support and hope to people suffering from mental illness and their families.
- To promote greater proximity between people and the institutions and initiatives dedicated to supporting and treating mental illness.
Shining In The Darkness… is what each person and organization that joins the movement does. The sum of lights helps each side of the darkness to illuminate the other.
On one side, the person suffering from the problem:
The darkness of forgetfulness, misunderstanding, exclusion, loneliness, “handicapping”, abandonment, fear, and the prejudice and guilt that society imposes on people who are already suffering.
On the other hand, society:
The darkness of ignorance, of the feeling of helplessness, of not recognizing a reality from which everyone wants to distance themselves.
How to participate
TELL A STORY ABOUT ANOREXIA, ANXIETY, BIPOLAR DISORDER, BULIMIA, DEPRESSION, SCHIZOPHRENIA or another type of mental illness.
The story can be yours or that of a family member or close friend. It is not necessary to mention names, and you can participate with a pseudonym (invented name).
PARTICIPATE FOR THE CAUSE: your participation can help other people.
YOU CAN WIN A PRIZE: up to 5,000 Euros in cash. A total of 21.500€ distributed in prizes from 200€ to 5.000€.
REGISTER YOUR STORY: until AUGUST 1, 2024.
Tell your story in the form of a letter, short story, chronicle, poem, or the type of text you prefer. If you prefer, tell your story in the form of a song you composed. Or tell it in the form of a drawing, painting, photograph or video. And if you have a social media profile talking about the topic, compete in the “creative social media” category.
Each person can participate in up to two categories.
The following are eligible to participate
- Categories 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8:
People who are facing or have faced a mental health problem of any type and severity, of any age and residing in any country. - Category 3:
Their relatives and close friends who have lived with them. - Category 9:
Professionals working in mental health care: art therapists, nurses, music therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatrists, occupational therapists and others.
Awards Ceremony
OCTOBER 10, 2024 World Mental Health Day
In person: Espacio All In One, CaixaBank, Madrid
Virtual: The link will be informed at a later date.
Deadline for Registration
SPAIN: AUGUST 01, 2024
IBERO-AMERICA: AUGUST 15, 2024 23:59:59h from Madrid
Contest rules and entry form:
https://brillandoenlaoscuridad.org/registrate-al-concurso
Why a contest? bit.ly/belo-presentation-en
