YMHArt: The Youth Mental Health Art Program

1st Place Winner

Author: Sumika Aoshima

Title: Stained Screams in Silence

Description: Silence has never been silent for anyone. This artwork depicts the lingering emotions and cathartic screams that overwhelm the mind, using continuous-line drawing to express the tangled, yet unbroken strokes of life. It represents the uninvited rumination that surfaces most loudly in stillness, shaped by not external expectations but rather internalized pressure. The coffee stains spread unpredictably, producing shadows that mirror the psychological depth and fragmented identity of the artist, which creates an obscured and ambiguous sense of self. Inspired by a personal, silent battle with self-harm, this work reveals how quietly persistent, blurred voices can overtake moments.

2nd Place Winner

Author: Alexandra Eusebio

Title: The Echoes of Voices

Description: I wrote this poem to highlight the various voices that one hears in the midst of mental health struggles, from voices of support to doubt. I hope that this poem’s relatability to many readers who also struggle with their mental health, but are afraid of reaching out, can serve as a reminder that people are not alone in their battles, and the voices in their heads do not have power over them. People may not know their purpose, but when they confront the lies inside their heads, they are one step closer to escaping the darkness of their struggles.

3rd Place Winner

Author: Lukas Hoerl

Title: Reflected

Description: When I get too overwhelmed I always wash my face off with cold water to bring me back into reality. I leave behind me all my stressors and this artwork is just that. I stare into the mirror seeing only a vague resemblance of myself looking back, all my store work, notebooks, calculator, books, behind me as I try to pull myself back into reality.

1st Place Winner

Author: Nicole Yang

Title: 1970

Description: As the creator of this painting, why, then, do I choose to express the year 1970 from the perspective of an observer? Perhaps the answer lies in my family history. A sense of heaviness—subdued, restrained, and sorrowful—left behind by my great-grandfather gradually extended to my generation, and then, with the passage of time, slowly came to an end within us. Or perhaps it is because I feel that we are forgetting certain important things from 1970.

2nd Place Winner

Author: Mia Shim

Title: Shattered

Description: This artwork depicts struggles that many teens face through a shattered mirror. Smaller shards reflect struggles like grades and social life. Makeup is smeared all over her face and the nails are mismatched, depicting conformity and covering up who she truly is.  Negative words paint the background, showing just how much they affect her and linger in her mind.

3rd Place Winner

Author: Jailene Tang

Title: Healing in the Sunlight

Description: This artwork represents the journey of overcoming hardship. The subject is shown crying while smiling and holding sunflowers, which symbolize hope and positivity. The sunrise also represents new beginnings and healing. The piece conveys that even when life is difficult, we can find the strength to face the light and heal.