More than 200 people were in attendance to view 70 artwork submissions from NH youth at the 2025 Magnify Voices Expressive Art Contest Celebration on May 21, 2025. (Photo courtesy of CSoC)

MANCHESTER – During May’s Mental Health Awareness Month, 80 New Hampshire students shared artwork depicting their journey with mental health through the Seventh Annual Magnify Voices Expressive Art Contest. The celebration event on May 21 at the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, N.H. featured 70 pieces of artwork ranging from paintings, essays, and poems to short videos, songs and performances. An initiative of the New Hampshire Children’s System of Care (CSoC). Magnify Voices raises awareness, erases stigma, and effects change to help ensure the social and emotional health of youth in the Granite State.

“The youth submissions reflect powerful personal experiences and shine an important light on youth mental health challenges,” said Deb Jurkoic, Magnify Voices Committee Member and NAMI New Hampshire (National Alliance on Mental Illness) NH Family Network Coordinator. “Learning from the artists provides us perspective that is invaluable to support Granite State youth.”

The celebration event included an art gallery featuring the 2025 submissions; a keynote presentation by Abby, who found her own voice as a 2024 Magnify Voices Finalist; a musical performance by Jason R. Flood Memorial Pizzastock and Granite State Music Therapy; and an awards presentation announcing the following 12 finalists:

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Written

I’m Sorry by Clare M.

No One Asked, So I don’t Know… by Parker W.

The Cage of My Mind by Shreya R.

Warm and Dry by Pearl H.

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Visual

Breathing Exercises by Aira P.

The Duality of Antidepressants by Madison B.

A Rainbow of Perspectives by Anna S.

Behind the Curtain by Isis C.

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Video

Visibility by Maison H., Vince R., Atulith P.

Like a Dark Cloud by Grace W., Ella B., Renji K., Molly A.

Recharge by Abigail R., Caroline M., Lukas P.

If The Walls Could Talk (About You) by Leila G.

The nearly 200 people in attendance voted on the recipient for the People’s Choice Award, which went to Hannah S. for her painting titled Conformity.

“I made my piece Conformity to share my art and give a message to everyone out there who experienced pushing all their personality and who they are deep down just to fit in with everybody else,” said Hannah S. after accepting her award. “Express yourself, be who you are.”

The works from the 12 finalists were featured in an academic planner distributed at the end of the event. Submissions will be displayed around the state beginning in August at the Conway Public Library.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), youth in America are experiencing a mental health crisis, with the percentage of high school students feeling sad and hopeless increasing significantly in the past 10 years. NAMI National reports that one in six U.S. youth experience a mental health disorder each year.

The New Hampshire Children’s System of Care (CSoC) created the Magnify Voices contest in 2019 as part of a national effort to highlight the vital role of positive mental health in a child’s development. Each year, Magnify Voices accepts a wide range of artistic submissions from New Hampshire youth in 5th through 12th grades in mediums including video, song, performance, essay, poem, sculpture, photography, painting and diorama.

NH CSoC is transforming New Hampshire’s behavioral health care services and supports for children into an integrated, comprehensive system of care. The Advisory Council, established by the N.H. Department of Health and Human Services and the N.H. Department of Education, is comprised of more than 50 child and family organizations and agencies across the state focused on improving mental health and addressing substance use disorders for children, youth, and their families.

Magnify Voices is a collaboration between the agencies and individual volunteers who come together to create this annual event. For more information or to view the 2025 submissions and finalists, visit NHCSoC.org/Magnify-Voices.