Schizophrenia Daily News Blog

"A Day in the Life" of a Person who has Schizophrenia - Contest

One of the goals of our web site is to educate people about what living with schizophrenia is like. AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals wants to help you tell that story... and a lucky winner will even win $1000 for their submission!

"A Day in the Life..." is a competition aimed at raising awareness of what it is like to live with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Submissions are being accepted until September 28, 2007 and can include essays, drawings or paintings, music, video or audio.

Following is a brief description:

A Day in the Life…
Contest Guidelines 2007

WHAT: As part of the 2007 World Mental Health Day observation, AstraZeneca is once again sponsoring a contest among people with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. “A Day in the Life…” is an artistic contest designed to educate on living with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia with a goal of providing a deeper understanding of what these diseases are like from the point of view of those who live with them.

Through the entries collected for this contest, and subsequent educational and promotional programs/activities/projects, people will gain a stronger understanding of how these diseases impact individuals in different ways and the range of ways people are coping, surviving and thriving with them.

WHO: This contest is open to U.S. individuals who have been diagnosed with and are living with Bipolar Disorder or Schizophrenia and to relatives or caregivers of those individuals.

WHEN: Entries are due into AstraZeneca by September 28. Winning entries will receive notification in early October; other entries may not be acknowledged. Award winners may be invited to a special awards presentation and presentation of their winning entry on the AstraZeneca campus. .

WHY: World Mental Health Day (WMHD) occurs during the second week of October each year and is a key activity of the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) to help raise awareness about mental health worldwide. AstraZeneca is supporting WMHD 07 as part of its commitment to promoting mental health awareness among the public.

HOW: Submissions should illustrate what an average day is like living with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Participants may enter in a variety of ways:

• Write an original 800-1200 word essay, poem, or short story
• Submit a short video, 2 minutes or less (MPEG, avi or wmv formats only)
• Create a painting or drawing (must be no larger than 14 x 16, non-mounted)
• Record an original song, 2 minutes or less (mp3 or MPEG formats only)

Entries will be judged based on how well they are considered to enable someone to understand what a day in the life of someone with one of these diseases is like. Each submission must reflect the entrant’s own original thinking. Entrants may submit only one piece for consideration.

All submissions, including non-winning entries, may be used to promote WHMD and other non-branded AstraZeneca efforts. Entrants’ first names may be displayed with their work but their last name will not be used.
All contestants must sign a written release authorizing AstraZeneca to use their entry in this and future educational and promotional projects. Entries that do not follow submission guidelines or that are not accompanied with the required signed release and entry form will not be considered for the contest. Submissions will not be returned. Please mail completed entries to:

Day in the Life Contest
Attn: Hugo Perez
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals
1800 Concord Pike, B2B-517A
Wilmington, DE 19850

Please include a separate 8 ½ x 11 sheet with the following entry information included (please print or type):
First and Last Name
Street Address
Phone number and/or email address
Best time to contact you
Type of entry (written, video, visual art, song)
1-paragraph description of your entry and why you chose to submit your entry in this medium

Also - Print out and include the following document in the letter you send:

Day in the Life: Authorization for Release (PDF File)

Contact information will be used solely to inform winning participants, unless entrants check the box allowing AstraZeneca to contact them about the possibility of using their submission in connection with the future marketing of AstraZeneca products. An entrant’s submission will not be used for these purposes without the entrant’s consent.

A selection committee will judge entries, and the top three will be awarded certificates and cash prizes ($1000/first, $500/second, $250/third). Entries will be judged on how well they are considered to communicate the experience of the individual