LA County Students Recognized for Mental Health Achievements

The Directing Change Program & Film Contest announced the regional finalists in the ninth annual student contest encouraging young people to create short films and art projects about suicide prevention and mental health. Students at John F. Kennedy Architecture/Digital/Design/Filmmaking Magnet High School, Hilda Solis Learning Academy, Herbert Hoover High School, Granada Hills Charter High School, iLead Online, Palms Middle School Modern Media and Communications Magnet, Bret Harte Preparatory Middle School, Sierra Vista Middle School, Cal State Polytechnic University Pomona, Claremont High School and Mountain View Elementary are among the regional finalists being recognized for artistic achievements in mental health and suicide prevention.

The contest is part of statewide suicide prevention and mental health efforts administered by the California Mental Health Services Authority. The program’s newest category “Hope and Justice” encourages young people to express how the cope during tough times and find the hope to continue moving forward.

“As our youth lived through one historic event after another this year, we saw mental health levels decline in the midst of global health and social events. Directing Change supported youth with learning resources focused on healthy coping and self-care, and by providing an outlet for creative expression,” said Shanti Bond Martinez, Senior Program Manager.

Bond Martinez continued: “Our youth filmmakers created inspiring, educational films helped them to stay hopeful and reminded their peers they are not alone. Their determination to create despite all they endured shows how truly resilient they are. This flexibility and strength will no doubt benefit them as they manage through grief, loss, uncertainty and the transition to a changed post-pandemic world.”

The pandemic exacerbated many risk factors for suicide, and eroded protective factors by isolating children and youth from social and environmental support systems. This increased the need to focus on supporting these young individuals through prevention and early intervention efforts. Programs like Directing Change raise mental health awareness and empower youth to have difficult conversations, look for mental health warning signs, and know when and where to get help.

Research shows that the program is making a positive impact. A study conducted by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago found that participants had higher awareness levels of suicide warning signs and where to find help compared with non-participants. The study concluded that Directing Change is effective at increasing knowledge and skills as well as changing attitudes and behaviors related to mental illness and suicide prevention. Furthermore, teachers at participating high schools reported a positive impact on school climate and an increase in student’s willingness to talk about important health topics.

Students statewide submitted 974 film entries created by 1,817 youth from 136 schools and community-based organizations representing 23 counties and Tri-city. Winners will be announced at a virtual ceremony on Facebook Live on May 18 at 7 p.m. (https://www.facebook.com/DirectingChangeCA/)

Region 3 Suicide Prevention Finalists from Los Angeles County

First Place: “I Am Not Alone” (Advancing to statewide round of judging)
Tri-City (Los Angeles County)
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Filmmaker: Wendy Obispo
Advisor: Elizabeth Harwell
Link: https://vimeo.com/517922977

“A girl describes her battle against her thoughts as fighting against a monster. The things she loved did not bring her any joy anymore and she started to give her belongings away, she thought no one saw her cries for help. That is until, she decided to reach out to someone and realizes that she is not alone.”

Second Place: “Shoes to Fill”
Tri-City (Los Angeles County)
Claremont High School
Filmmakers: Selah Eum and Yasmine Suuck
Advisor: Sara Hills
Link: https://vimeo.com/520386443/7f2995729f

“This film was interesting to make because my partner and I had to film and edit together remotely. Through the process of making this film we learned how to work together in a remote environment. We decided to choose this category because we wanted to show the signs of suicide in a different format by using split screens.”

Third Place: “I’m Fine” (Team Pick – Advancing to statewide round of judging)
Los Angeles County
John F. Kennedy Architecture/Digital Design/Filmmaking Magnet High School
Filmmakers: Jasmine Kohlbrenner and Sabrina Rae Gonzales
Advisor: Aaron Lemos
Link: I'm Fine

“We wanted to show that the warning for suicide might not be easily noticeable and that it can happen to anyone”.

“Dandelion” (Team Pick - Advancing to statewide round of judging)
Los Angeles County
Hilda Solis Learning Academy
Filmmakers: Justin Toyoshiba, Liliana Barojas, and Gessell Espinosa
Advisor: James Ng
Link: https://vimeo.com/518302242

Region 3 Mental Health Finalists from Los Angeles County

First Place: “A Mile in Their Shoes” (Advancing to statewide round of judging)
Tri-City (Los Angeles County)
Claremont High School
Filmmaker: Erin Murphy
Advisor: Sara Hills
Link: https://vimeo.com/518480585

“I chose to create a film on what it would be like to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes. From personal experience, people made comments about me and I felt very judged when I would show up to school late or eat lunch in the nurse’s office. In reality, I was struggling with a serious eating disorder and multiple other co-existing conditions which made school a bit different for me compared to other students. All I wanted in that moment was for someone to realize what it was like in my shoes and other people’s shoes who were going through a similar situation. There was a great stigma placed on mental health at the time, so being open about my struggles was not an option for me. I want myself and others to reduce the stigma placed on mental health and work to join the mental health movement.”

Second Place: “Progress”
Los Angeles County
Herbert Hoover High School
Filmmakers: Lillian Safari and Nooneh Gyurjyan
Advisor: Jason Pinsker
Link: https://vimeo.com/518019222

“I chose the mental health category because it is something that I have seen become a huge issue in teens like myself especially during this pandemic. I wanted to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms people can notice so they can reach out. Being away from peers and isolation due to COVID-19 in this prime time of development is extremely difficult for many teens and this film was created to shed light on that”.

Third Place: “An Umbrella”
Los Angeles County
Granada Hills Charter High School
Filmmakers: Jasmine Boonsanong, Shayla Pham, and Sofia Pires
Advisor: Cynthia Quintana
Link: https://vimeo.com/518357432

“We chose this category in particular because it resonated with us the most as high school students who are struggling with mental health challenges such as stress, anxiety, and burnout, especially during this pandemic”.

Through the Lens of Culture Finalist from Los Angeles County

Third Place: “Arab Hearts-Mental Health PSA”
Los Angeles County
Granada Hills Charter High School
Filmmaker: Borhan Safaei
Advisor: Cindy Quintana
Link: https://vimeo.com/518476605

Animated Finalists from Los Angeles County

Third Place (TIED): “True Colors”
Los Angeles County
Hilda Solis Learning Academy
Filmmakers: Justin Toyoshiba, Kailah Solis, Ruben Ramirez, Angela Cardona, Liliana Barojas, Ally Morales, Gessell Espinosa, Jasmine Brijido, Manuel Rangel, and Nicholas Castillo
Advisor: James Ng
Link: https://vimeo.com/517004655

Fourth Place: “Seeing Signs”
Los Angeles County
iLead Online
Filmmaker: Hannah Newton
Advisor: Cynthia Kobler
Link: https://vimeo.com/518437879

“While making this film I learned more about the subtle behavioral signs of suicidal thoughts such as out of character irritability, changes in sleep cycle and others. It's important that this information be shared broadly so it may contribute to suicide prevention and save a life.”

Walk in Our Shoes Suicide Prevention (Middle School Students) Finalists from Los Angeles County

First Place: “Help Equals Hope” (Recognized at Award Ceremony)
Los Angeles County
Palms Middle School Modern Media and Communications Magnet
Filmmakers: Samantha Hartmann, Ieva Arnold, and Margot Madeira
Advisor: Irene Clark
Link: https://vimeo.com/517646947

“I feel that it is crucial for people to give a helping hand to a person who is experiencing symptoms of depression. Most of us have felt extremely depressed at one point.”

First Place: “I’m Here for You” (Recognized at Award Ceremony)
Los Angeles County
Bret Harte Preparatory Middle School
Filmmakers: Joshua Bravo and Fatima Banegas
Advisor: Lindsay Varis

Link: https://vimeo.com/518279454

“We learned about the help that is available for supporting people in crisis and having a hard time. We chose a text conversation for our film because we wanted our film to feel realistic and we text a lot with our friends.”

Third Place: “The Music in Me”
Tri-City (Los Angeles County)
Mountain View Elementary School
Filmmakers: Vivienne Mezones, Isabella Nateras-Garcia, Madyson Ryneer, and Isabella Pineda
Advisor: Jacqueline McElvy
Link: https://vimeo.com/519742721

“We chose this category because we learned a unique word, ikagai. This word means a reason for being, your values, your purpose, and what makes your life worthwhile. We wanted to further explore and understand what happens when you lose your ikagai. What you feel, think, why you lost it, and how to help gain it back. We wanted to portray the message that whatever you’re going through you’re not alone, there’s always hope”.

Walk in Our Shoes Mental Health (Middle School Students) Finalists from Los Angeles County

Third Place: “A Simple Hi”
Los Angeles County
Palms Middle School Modern Media and Communications Magnet
Filmmakers: Uleses Henderson, Traydell Wilson, Shane Hines, and Lennox Bradford
Advisor: Irene Clark
Link: https://vimeo.com/517632707

“Our film was based on one of my friends who was depressed during quarantine. She needed someone to talk to and I did the best I could to provide her company and to show her that I care. ”

Walk in Our Shoes Words Matter (Middle School Students) Finalists from Los Angeles County

First Place: “Online Dangers: The Power of Our Words” (Recognized at Award Ceremony)
Los Angeles County
Palms Middle School Modern Media and Communications Magnet
Filmmakers: Baron Ellis, Shayaan Hyder, and Yossi Lazaro Cruz
Advisor: Irene Clark
Link: https://vimeo.com/517647734

Third Place: “Words matter till the end of time…”
Los Angeles County
Sierra Vista Middle School
Filmmaker: Jason Flores
Advisor: Sheila Edwards
Link: https://vimeo.com/522168986

About Directing Change

Directing Change launched in 2012 and is a suicide prevention and mental health promotion program that draws on developmental and educational theory in its approach. By following the program’s submission guidelines to create short (30 and 60-second) films or art projects, students learn about suicide prevention, mental health and other social justice and critical health topics; discuss and apply that knowledge in peer groups; and communicate positive, youth-focused, action-oriented messages to peers and adults in their communicates. The program is free to schools and supported by the California Department of Education. Directing Change is part of statewide efforts to prevent suicide, reduce stigma and discrimination to related to mental illness, and to promote the mental health and wellness of students. These initiatives are funded by counties through the Mental Health Services Act (Prop 63) and administered by the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA), and organization of county governments working to improve mental health outcomes for individuals, families and communities. For more information visit www.DirectingChangeCA.org.