Millions of stamps are used to send 40 million pieces of mail nationwide every business day, according to Canada Post's website.

For the entire 159-year history of the organization, the decision of what to feature on the stamps has always been left up to Canada Post's stamp advisory committee. With the 2011 mental health design stamp competition, history is about to be made.

"This is the first time in our history that a final stamp design will be chosen by the Canadian public," said Cindy Daoust, Canada Post manager for the cause of choice.

The contest received over 350 entries from across the country, each exploring what mental health means to the entrants.

"We've been thrilled with the designs we received," said Daoust. "(The designs featured) everything from pictures from art therapy programs to photographs of people's loved ones who have dealt with mental health issues, and more. They were all compelling, well-thought-out designs that spoke beautifully to the issue."

Canada Post made mental health its cause of choice in 2008. Since then, it has raised over $4.8 million for the Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health.

Brian Blatnicki, a Fanshawe grad and social media and business development strategist for mindyourmind.ca, had his stamp design chosen by a panel of stamp experts as one of the top five in the contest. His design, "No Need To Hide," can be voted on at deliverhope.ca.

"I wanted to raise awareness on the seriousness associated with the stigma of mental illness," he said. One in five Canadians will be affected by mental illness, but only twothirds of those with mental illness will reach out for help, he added.

"A lot of people tend to hide that they're struggling or dealing with a mental illness, and I thought it would be a good way to portray someone coming through it."

If he wins the contest, Blatnicki will receive a framed commemorative enlargement of his stamp and a $500 honorarium will be donated to a mental health charity of his choice. If he wins, he said he plans to donate the money to mindyourmind.

The winning design will also be used as a stamp and sold across Canada for two years.

Votes can be cast by visiting deliverhope.ca. Voters are limited to one vote per design, per computer, per day. The winning design will be announced in the first week of April.