DIRECTING CHANGE PROGRAM & FILM CONTEST INC

Description

The Directing Change Program and Film Contest is an evaluated program devoted to training young people in mental health awareness, suicide prevention and other critical health and social justice issues. The program prepares young people to recognize signs of distress and how to seek help for themselves or a friend; provides curriculums and trainings to educators and school administrators to impact school climates, policies and practices; facilitates parent workshops; and offers 24/7 crisis support to schools after a student suicide. More than 18,000 youth have received mental health awareness and suicide prevention training through participation in Directing Change since its launch during the 2011-2012 school year; the program has also been implemented in more than 50 counties and in over 500 school districts in California.

Disguised as a film and art contest, Directing Change engages youth by providing lesson plans and instructional tools to educators and educational resources to students. Youth apply this knowledge to their own unique messages about suicide prevention and mental health by creating films and art. Learning objectives surrounding mental health and suicide prevention are integrated into all contest submission categories, giving young people the opportunity to explore these topics critically while learning about positive messaging and available support resources.