THE WILLIAM ALBRECHT
MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION AWARD

NAMI-Yolo  has established an annual award to honor educators who use the NAMI-Yolo Sunflower Art Competition as an opportunity to educate students about mental health issues

To qualify for the award, applicants must be an educator whose students have entered the NAMI-Yolo Sunflower Art Competition. Entries can be individual (each student doing an individual artwork) or a group project (students working together on a single artwork). Part of the project's goals should be to educate students about mental health issues. The award is funded by an annual raffle.

William Albrecht was a young man who was inspired by a few exceptional teachers to excel in music, art and writing before his life was cut short by bipolar disorder. NAMI-Yolo established this prize in 2009 to honor his memory and to recognize insightful educators who strive to help eliminate the myths and stigma that surround mental illness.

Click here for Application Form and Guidelines

Submit applications for the Mental Health Education Award along with class artwork at the Davis Art Center; 1919 F. St, in Davis June 1, 2012. See Entry Form for detals.

The award will be presented at the Sunflower Art Reception, in June.

For more information or to have entry forms mailed to you. phone the NAMI Helpline at 530-756-8181.

NAMI-Yolo's hope is that as students become better educated about mental health, there will be a reduction in the myths, misconceptions and prejudices surrounding mental illness that can lead to denial and delay treatment. Mental health education can lead to improved recognition, earlier treatment and better outcomes for people who develop a mental illness and for greater understanding and compassion.