Teen Artist Struggling With Mental Health Designs 'Teddy in Scrubs' To Raise Funds For Children's Hospitals

A talented young artist dedicated to helping children battling the demons of mental health created the perfect symbol of what 2020 has meant for all of us.

Hayley Caplin, 16, of Australia is on carefully managed medication to treat her with Asperger's, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and an anxiety disorder.

"It does muddle my mind up like quite a lot," she says.

But her entry into a national competition to design a "Community Teddy Bear" had a crystal clear focus: to honor those who helped us all cope and survive in 2020. And that's how "Teddy in Scrubs" -- a teddy bear wearing little blue scrubs and a mask with a red superhero cape -- was born.

"A lot of people have only made it through with the help of so many front line workers," says the Ipswich teenager.

"Her bear stood out amongst all the others simply because of the meaning behind it," says Tanya Atkin, a manager at Big W, the Australian chain of discount department stores that sponsored the contest.

At 15 Australian dollars each (about $11.30 in U.S. dollars), the bears flew off the shelves during the holiday season, with all money raised going to children's hospitals across Australia.

Caplin says she's in a very happy place when she has a pencil or paintbrush in her hand.

"It's like medication for me," she says. "I feel like my mind really slows down when I'm drawing."

Faces are her favorite thing, and the bigger the "schnoz," the better!

"I don't know why but I really like drawing noses because I love how round they are."

Caplin has pledged to put her artwork to best use by helping children with their mental health struggles.

"I've been considering things like art therapy -- even things like children's publishing like illustrating for that sort of thing," she says.

"She's got the biggest heart and I think she's going to make a real difference in the world," says her mom, Angel Caplin.