A Children’s Mental Health Poetry Competition from AWARE NI!

What is Express Yourself?

'Express Yourself' is a mental health poetry competition brought to you by AWARE NI. The purpose of this competition is to encourage children to express their thoughts and feelings through the fun and creative medium of poetry. We hope it will start conversations about mental health in classrooms across the country. The competition is open to all P6 & P7 pupils in Northern Irish primary schools and each school can submit two entries.

What are the prizes?

Prizes include an AWARE NI Paws b mindfulness course for the winning school and £150/£100/£50 Amazon Gift Vouchers for the top 3 winners!

But that’s not all… this competition has a legacy…

The top 10 winning poems will be turned into a children’s mental health book featuring advice from AWARE NI and will be sent out to all partaking schools and community libraries. You've read that right - if you are in the top ten then you will be a published author! What an achievement!

How can my school take part?

We're asking school teachers and principals to register your school's interest by clicking here and following the registration instructions.

After registering for your school, you will be provided with a link to download the Express Yourself Poem Pack, with tips for introducing mental health in the classroom and fun activities for your students to complete!

*If you are a parent or carer, you can ask your child’s teacher to consider registering through this page*

Campaign Ambassador

Our friend, Isla McManus (@IslaLovesToSing), will be the campaign's ambassador, helping us to promote the competition, choosing the winning poems and attending the winning school to gift them with an incredible live performance!

Check out Isla's beautiful voice here.

Submissions are now open! (closing 14.03.25)
Each school can submit two poems via email to
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*This competition is open to Northern Ireland Primary school P6 & P7 pupils only*

AWARE is the depression charity for Northern Ireland and the only charity working exclusively for those with depression and bipolar disorder.

Aware Defeat Depression, known as AWARE, Crawford Square, Derry/Londonderry, BT48 7HR, Company No: NI30447. Registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland with charity registration number NIC100561

BELFAST OFFICE

Tel: 028 9035 7820

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DERRY/LONDONDERRY OFFICE

Tel: 028 7126 0602