Third Annual World Mental Health Global Essay Contest (Last Updated On: ) Human Rights Committee Announces the Third Annual World Mental Health Global Essay Contest ABOUT WFMH: The World Federation for Mental Health is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year as the only non-governmental, worldwide, multidisciplinary advocacy and public education organization concerned with all aspects of mental health and mental illness. WFMH was founded in 1948 to advance, among all peoples and nations, the prevention of mental and emotional disorders, the proper treatment and care of those with such disorders, and the promotion of mental health. The goal of the WFMH Human Rights Committee is to promote and defend the rights, dignity, and autonomy of persons with mental illness, to improve their mental health care, and to improve their environment. This goal shall be accomplished through dissemination of knowledge and information through discussion, education, training, networking, support of individuals and communities, the use of media, and collaboration with other organizations with similar goals. ESSAY SUBJECT: In 1948, in addition to the founding of the WFMH, the UN Human Rights Declaration was born. The strength of the Declaration is its universality and timelessness. Although the world has changed in past 50 years, not all countries abide by the Declaration’s principles. In the last 50 years, according to documented sources, there have been over 160 wars, and countless systemic persecutions and atrocities affecting innocent people. ESSAY QUESTION: What changes do you recommend to prevent continued human rights violations and to improve world mental health, in general, and the mental health of survivors, in particular? AWARD(S)* A $200 US Savings Bond for high school students Eligibility and Submission Criteria: Students must be enrolled in high school (Grades 9-12); non-US students include the four grades immediately prior to first year of University. Essays must be original and unpublished; Essays must include social and psychological perspectives of human rights; Essays must be in English, typewritten, double-spaced, and 1,500 words in length; No more than one entry per year, and per family; All entries become the property of WFMH, Human Rights Committee and will not be returned; WFMH Human Rights Committee reserves the right to make no award(s) in a given year if, in the opinion of its three judges, the submissions do not meet the criteria. Deadline: All entries must be postmarked by December 6, 2000. Winner(s) will be notified and announced by the end of January 2001. Please include cover letter indicating name, address, phone # (include area code or city code), age, year of study, name of school and career objectives, and mail to: Dr. Anie Kalayjian, 130 W. 79th Street, Ground Floor, New York, NY 10024, U.S.A.