OC 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 Woodbridge High School, Canyon High School, Portola High School, El Dorado High School, Edison High School, and Brea Olinda High School 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 1 Suicide Prevention Finalists from Orange County

First Place: “Quaranteens” (Advancing to statewide round of judging)
Orange County
Woodbridge High School
Filmmakers: Daisy Bateman, Brooke Brody, Ashna Parekh, and Katie Kim
Advisor: Megan Humphreys
Link: https://vimeo.com/517338114

“We wanted to do something relevant to COVID-19 and to show how physical distancing should not stop one from reaching out. This is something that we are noticing often on our high school campus and thought it would be relevant to supporting our school population.”

Third Place: “Imagine”

Orange County
Canyon High School
Filmmaker: Taylor Rogers
Advisor: Alex Graham
Link: Imagine video

“I chose this category because it is something I used to really struggle with, so I used my own experience to make this short film as accurate as it could be. I got out of my depression because I talked to someone and got the help I needed.”

Region 1 Mental Health Finalists from Orange County

First Place: “Signs” (Advancing to statewide round of judging)
Orange County
El Dorado High School
Filmmakers: Justin Guest, Harmaan Mohta, Mitchell Jones, and Meyson McComb
Advisor: Mark Switzer
Link: https://vimeo.com/517239894

“As a team, we learned the importance of maintaining mental well-being and how easy it can be to overlook this.”

Second Place: “March 2020”
Orange County
Canyon High School
Filmmakers: Giada Leone and Jenny Leone
Advisor: Mr. Graham
Link: https://vimeo.com/516307816

“Something I learned while filming this is that it's OK not to be OK and that you should always reach for help if you need it.”

Third Place (TIED): “Bloom (Team Pick - Advancing to statewide round of judging)
Orange County
Portola High School
Filmmakers: Grace Shao, Shailee Sankhala, Yinzhi Pan, Raksha Rajeshmohan, Cecilia Mou, Rachel Shim, Megan Sha, Anne Wu, and May Essman
Advisor: Ryan Itchon
Link: https://vimeo.com/517980347

“Using a garden as a metaphor, we worked with a fellow student who struggles with depression and decided to tell this real-life story as a way to express her emotions and journey. We chose two locations to successfully portray the true meaning of the film - one is a hill that was burnt in a recent forest fire and one is Sherman Library and Gardens, which has the beautiful greenery we used to describe the healing process. By exploring this story, we realized how important it is that the stigma around mental health is addressed in society and that more people are aware of the importance of mental health”.

Third Place (TIED): “Each Mind Matters”
Orange County
Edison High School
Filmmaker: Mia Avalos
Advisor: Ryan Hayes
Link: https://vimeo.com/518269856

“I made this film because I have struggled with my mental health all my life and I think coping mechanisms are not being discussed as much as they should be with people who have anxiety and depression. People diagnosed with anxiety and depression, including me in the past, may not know the useful tools that are helpful. I think this film also portrays the isolation that can come with experiencing anxiety and depression.”

Through the Lens of Culture Finalists from Orange County

Second Place (TIED): “The Mental Blanket”
Orange County
Brea Olinda High School
Filmmakers: Nemo Luong, Kim Tong, and Mia Luong
Advisor: Bill Mings
Link: https://vimeo.com/518476147

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.