Announcing the Recipients of the Spotify x JED Impact Award for Positive Mental Health Storytelling

When we introduced the inaugural Spotify x JED Impact Award earlier this year, our goal was simple: Celebrate unpublished fiction that inspires a more inclusive and compassionate dialogue around mental health. Now, on World Mental Health Day, we’re excited to announce the five recipients whose work exemplifies positive mental health storytelling.

This initiative is a partnership between Spotify; The Black List, a platform where writers can  showcase work to industry professionals; and The Jed Foundation (JED), a leading nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide among teens and young adults nationwide.

Designed to create opportunities for emerging writers, the Spotify x JED Impact Award aims to normalize mental health experiences and highlight the importance of seeking and offering support.

Each recipient will receive a $10,000 grant to support their work, along with opportunities to consult with mental health experts through JED. All writers will retain the rights to their manuscripts.

Recipients were chosen from a large pool of manuscripts over several rounds of judging. The final decision was made by a distinguished panel: bestselling author Jason Reynolds; Michael La Ronn, author of more than 100 novels and self-help books for writers; and Julia Phillips, author of the bestseller Bear: A Novel and Disappearing Earth, a National Book Award finalist.

“Each of the recipients wrote manuscripts with compelling characters and explorations of mental health issues that both educated and inspired me,” said Michael. “I’m so proud of the recipients and hope these manuscripts are just the beginning.”

The Impact Award is part of Spotify’s Heart & Soul, Mental Health for Creators initiative, which supports the well-being of artists, songwriters, and authors worldwide. Through our ongoing partnership with JED, we’ll continue to provide resources that nurture both creative and personal wellness. Self-care and mental health storytelling resources for writers were also created in collaboration with JED.

“The recipients of the inaugural Spotify x JED Impact Award bring to life vivid and moving depictions of mental health,” said Spotify Social Impact Lead Casey Acierno. “We’re proud to celebrate these impactful narratives and support their writers.”

Distortion by Daniel Patinkin 
In-Between Worlds by Solomon Tesfaye  
Infinite Delores by Bree Barton  
More Than Quiet by Terah Tsuyako Summers 
The Invisible Runner by Dennis Haseley 

Learn more about the recipients and their projects here. 

For our partners, this year’s submissions are a reminder of how fiction can spark connection, understanding, and hope.

“Reading the award submissions underscored the powerful role fiction plays in shaping our mental health and inner storytelling—how we see the world, our place in it, and the pathways for healing and growth,” said Courtney Knowles, Senior Media Advisor for JED. “We look forward to learning from these talented recipients and expanding our work with Spotify to support creators in their mental health and impact journeys.”

This collaboration also highlighted the importance of challenging stereotypes and encouraging responsible storytelling.

“Help-seeking and help-giving narratives—stories that challenge mental health stereotypes— make for better, more responsible writing,” added Randy Winston, Creative Director of Fiction at The Black List. “Congratulations to our grant recipients for their work, and a heartfelt thank you to our judges Jason, Julia, and Michael and our readers for their time and efforts.” 

Stay tuned to see how else Spotify’s Heart & Soul, Mental Health for Creators initiative is supporting artists, authors, and their teams around the globe.