Children's Feelings Are a Work Of Art

Community organizations have been diligently working to address child mental health issues. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the U.S. Surgeon General mental health warnings have brought greater publicity to this issue and highlighted the need for collaborative efforts.

Children's feelings are a work of art is an activity that educates, raises awareness and reduces the stigma surrounding children's mental health. Students learn to identify feelings, manage them through coping skills and express them in healthy ways like art. Artwork is displayed in the community to celebrate participating students and encourage healthy conversations about mental health.

View artwork submissions from previous years below.

Drawing of a sad girl with vitiligo, surrounded by insults: UGLY!, Poke adot face, HAHA!, no one cares!, Skinny

Anxiety

Chloe Ballard, 11 years of age

“She went to a pool and she got insecir because of her skin and got anxiety.”

Child's drawing of a scared person in a pink dress, screaming, with an erupting volcano and falling fiery rocks

Anxiety

Ariana, 11 years of age

“This is anxiety she is having an anxiety attack she is thanking “what if the volcano is going to explode in the entire world.”

Child's drawing: mountains, purple sky, sun, moose, beaver, bird, alligator, fish, river, and trees

Calming forest

Abel, 10 years of age

“When I am mad I can look at this picture and calm me down because I am in the woods a lot and it is calm there.”

Vibrant painting: head silhouette reveals sunset over water, framed by starry night sky with moon and trees

Hope Within

Pruthav, 12 years of age

“You fall you fail but every sunrise gives you a hope to try all over again.”

Drawing of a smiling person with Happy shirt, surrounded by peace signs, a sun, heart, balloon, emoji, and Joy

The Look of Joy

Daisy, 11 years of age

“Just to let everyone know, Joy is one of the most important feelings to express yourself and not just that but it feels wonderfull to be happy,”

Vibrant abstract artwork: multi-colored paint blobs drip down a white canvas, creating vertical streaks and textures

Many Thoughts

Caleb, 12 years of age

“Every color in my painting is a thought made in your head and it shows how your thoughts mix into one thought.”

Colorful abstract collage. A central yellow shape with green marks radiates orange and yellow striped rays on a blue background

Shine

Willem, 7 years of age

“It makes me feel happy to be outside. I am OK to show how happy I feel when I run and play outside. The sun is shining and sunshine is happiness.”

A family of three sits in green grass, viewed from behind, gazing at a vibrant sky with colorful, fluffy clouds

Untitled

Gabriela, 16 years of age

“When I’m going through a hard time I like to spend time with family. They are the ones that are always going to be there for me.”

Contact us about our program

For questions or information on children's feelings are a work of art, contact jammie.josephson@cookchildrens.org .

Heart-shaped icon of two light blue hands shaking, symbolizing safety and partnership

Access free resources

The Center for Community Health is committed to providing free education and access to our data.

Resources Access our data Become a partner

References

1Community Health Needs Assessment Report. (2021), pg.88. Cook Children’s Health Care System. Fort Worth, Texas.

2Cook Children's Medical Center, Trauma Center, Physician Network, Case Management Services, Meditech Data Repository, and Epic Data Repository.