RULES
ELIGIBILITY
Any US Citizen between the ages of 19-64 who has been professionally diagnosed with bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder (often referred to simply as depression), is currently under professional medical care and medical treatment, and has successfully managed the depressive symptoms for at least six months is invited to submit a success story–in the form of a written essay, song, artwork, poem, or video—for the SPEAK and Be Heard … Living With Depression campaign.
ENTRY FORMAT
Submissions will be accepted in five forms: essay, song, art, poetry, and video. Submissions must not include any mention of specific treatments or brand names of medications, or full names of medical professionals, patients, caregivers, family members, or other individuals. Any entries that include this information will be disqualified. Additionally, for people with bipolar disorder, entries should not include descriptions of manic episodes or they will be disqualified as well. Please note that, while full names will not be disclosed, individuals may be identifiable from the medical and personal information contained in the entry. As set out more fully in the authorization form (hardcopy and electronic), participants will need to obtain the consent of any other person who could be so identified, as, for example, when they are included in a video clip or artwork.
Essay
- Essays must be original and personally created
- Written essay totaling no more than 750 words
Video
- Videos must be original footage that has been personally created
- Video running under three minutes
- For online video submissions, the following
formats will be accepted: avi, mov (QuickTime
multimedia), mp4, mpeg, qt (QuickTime) and wmv (Windows Media Video) - Mailed video submissions must be on DVD
Art
- Art must be original images that have been personally created
- A 50-200 word description of the inspiration or story behind the artwork must be included
- Art will only be accepted digitally through the campaign website
- The following formats will be accepted: JPEG, GIF, PNG
Poetry
- Poetry must be original and personally created
- A 50-200 word description of the inspiration or story behind the poem must be included
- Written poem totaling no more than 750 words
Song
- Songs must be original lyrics that have been personally created
- Audio song running under three minutes
- A 50-200 word description of the inspiration or story behind the song must be included
- For online song submissions, the following formats will be accepted: MP3, WAV
- Mailed song submissions must be on CD
ENTRY FORM SUBMISSIONS*
- Submit your entry online
- Submissions may be mailed to:
Edelman
Attn: David Barton
250 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10013
Download Official Entry Form (PDF)
GUIDELINES
We encourage you to submit your personal story—or let your artwork, music or poetry speak as a reflection of your journey—as a way to inspire hope in others with the depressive symptoms of bipolar disorder or depression. Submissions for all categories will be accepted starting on July 20, 2010. To qualify, submissions must be received by the following dates for each category:
- Essay, Song, and Poetry Categories: July 20 - August 13, 2010
- Art and Video Categories: July 20 - September 10, 2010
Not sure where to start? Get some ideas.
For each of the submission categories, judges from patient, advocacy, health care, literary, film, music and art communities will select three entrants as finalists. The judges will be looking for submissions that inspire hope in others so they can recognize and seek help for their unresolved depressive symptoms of bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder.
Criteria used to evaluate the submission for patient stories:
- Number of years diagnosed with bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder
- How did your unresolved symptoms affect your life?
- Your journey to successfully achieve your goals and the importance of managing unresolved depressive symptoms of bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder to achieve those goals
- Words of advice for others, how to manage the depressive symptoms of his or her bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder, and how to seek to achieve their goals
- Contact information including: name, address, phone number, and e-mail address
Submissions must not include any mention of specific treatments or brand names of medications, or full names of medical professionals, patients, caregivers, family members, or other individuals. Any entries that include this information will be disqualified. Additionally, for people with bipolar disorder, entries should not include descriptions of manic episodes or they will be disqualified as well.
The contact information provided will be used solely to communicate with you about your submission and this contest, and will not be used or disclosed for any other purpose unless you check that appropriate box on the authorization form (electric and hardcopy).
*Submissions will not be returned. Per the authorization form (electric and hardcopy), you give DBSA and AstraZeneca permission to use, reproduce, and disclose your submission in the United States, in any media, including radio, television, print publications, and the Internet (including DBSA and AstraZeneca web properties) for purposes of educating people on bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder through educational, promotional, and commercial programs that are related to the SPEAK and Be Heard … Living with Depression program.
