Choose Mental Health, a non-profit leader in youth mental health advocacy, is recognizing individuals, businesses and organizations who are fighting for youth mental health with the prestigious recognition of the SMILE Award. In general, the 2024 SMILE Award recipients will have made significant efforts to support mental health initiatives in the workplace or within their community helping children and youth. Nominees are expected to be exemplary in their workplace or school, communities and online communities.
Award Categories (one winner selected from each):
- Business/Organization
- This award honors exceptional businesses or organizations that have demonstrated remarkable dedication to advancing youth mental health care and advocating for mental health care for all. Examples of qualifying initiatives include impactful benefits packages, hosting and initiating volunteer and fundraising efforts and meaningful community outreach programs that promote and build and promote solutions for children's mental health.
- Individual
- The Individual award recognizes the accomplishments of an individual aged 25 or older who has exhibited steadfast dedication and passion in supporting the mental well-being of all people. This award acknowledges their outstanding efforts, advocacy work and significant contributions towards enhancing youth mental health awareness and access to care for all.
- Student + Young Professional
- This award honors a student or young professional aged 18 to 24 who champions youth mental health and demonstrates outstanding potential, achievement, or engagement in this area. Nominees should be actively pursuing their education or early career while positively impacting youth mental health through their initiatives, projects, or extracurricular involvement.
Why should you nominate a business, organization, individual, young professional or student for a SMILE Award?
The work of fighting for youth mental health care is often a silent one, but it is saving lives. Whether through large or small-scale initiatives, businesses, organizations and individuals that are actively working to make a difference for youth mental health care in the United States deserve to be recognized.
Who is eligible to apply/nominate?
Successful nominees will have demonstrated how they championed youth mental health through advocacy, policies, practices, initiatives and/or activities they support. Awards are for those based in the United States only. We strongly encourage submitting examples including, but not limited to, links to activities, social media pages and attachments (i.e., PDF flyers, brochures, etc.).
Is there a cost associated with nominating?
Submissions for the SMILE Award are free and open to all businesses, organizations, individuals and young professionals or students in the United States who are actively working to address the youth mental health crisis. You may nominate as many times as you like as long as the above criteria is met. Self-nominations are accepted.
I have some more questions before I apply. Who can I contact?
For more information on Choose Mental Health or questions on the SMILE Awards, please contact CMH@reputationpartners.com.