The Directing Change Program and Film Contest engages students and young people throughout California to learn about the topics of suicide prevention and mental health in an innovative way: a film contest. We learn through actions and when we apply knowledge our minds begin to change. Anyone can read about the signs of suicide or mental illness, but to create a 60-second film about them, be respectful, and think deeply about impacting the opinion of others requires a level of involvement that has lasting impact.
An informational video about suicide prevention and how to reach out to those experiencing suicidal thoughts.
May is Mental Health Matters Month 2022 Directing Change Spirit Day Activity
May is Mental Health Matters Month 2022 Directing Change Materials
DC Parent Brochure Spanish (eVersion)
DC Parent Brochure Spanish (Print Ready)
Social Media posts and videos for the Directing Change category Hope and Justice.
A young college student shares her experience with mental health challenges and finds strength and unity from her family and deeply rooted Ghanaian beliefs of unity.
“We Don’t Do That” is a short film by high school student Olivia Bishop that highlights the stigma around mental health in the African American community.
A film that models how to help someone who is being bullied for their identity as an LGBTQ youth.
A film about how LGBTQ youth face additional stigmas and challenges when it comes to opening up about their mental health.
A brochure for parents that provides suicide prevention information, including questions parents can ask themselves to assess their teen's risk.
Prewritten social media content that you can copy, paste and post on your social media channels to promote the 2020 Directing Change Film contest.
Daily customizable emails and images that promote awareness of the Directing Change Program & Film Contest.
A print-ready tent card file for outreach efforts to reach youth.
A comprehensive overview of resources to assist schools and districts with implementing the requirements of AB 2246 including staff trainings, accessing data, risk assessment tools, youth engagement programs, postvention planning and general suicide prevention resources.
A film in Spanish, with English subtitles, that tells the story of a girl who notices signs of suicide in her friend Tyler and reaches out to support him.
A film in Japanese, with English subtitles, that tells the story of a girl who experiences anxiety and finds support from a friend.
A film in Mandarin, with English subtitles, where a young person shares her experience with depression and how a friend showed her support.
A film in Hmong, with English subtitles, where a student shares about being Hmong and integrating his cultural beliefs into American society.
A film in Chinese, with English subtitles, that shares how friends can show support to those who are experiencing a mental health challenge.
An animated film in Mandarin, with English subtitles, about how learning about mental health can allow us to help those living with mental health challenges.
A spoken word/poetry film about the struggles young men face, narrated by an African American male who urges young people to hold on.
The Directing Change Program & Film Contest engages young people in California to create films about mental health and suicide prevention.
A Directing Change film focusing on generational trauma in the Native American community.
A Directing Change video focusing on suicide prevention in the Native American community.
An informational video about how mental illness and stigma impact one another and make it harder for individuals in need reach out for help.
An informational video about mental health advocacy and how students can be advocates for mental health and suicide prevention within their communities.
An informational video about actions to take when a friend is struggling with a mental health challenges.
An informational video about mental health challenges, specifically, depression and anxiety.
An informational video about mental health and the mental health continuum.
