San Diego County
- Open to youth ages 12-25
- Deadline: Last day of the month
- Free to participate
- Amazon Gift Cards (up to $300)
- All art forms accepted (visual art, film, written works, TikTok, original music and more)
- Think of an anchor that helps you when you’re going through a tough time and express it through art! An anchor could be a hobby or activity, a form of self-care like music, journaling, or breathing, or any little thing that brings you joy, helps you cope, and reminds you about your reason for living.
- Learn more by visiting the Hope & Justice contest page
- Get inspired by visiting the Virtual Gallery
September Monthly Prompt: Find Your Anchor
Featured Art
For contest rules, submission category details, entry form
and other information visit the contest page.
- Open to Middle, High School and College Students (12-25)
- Deadline: March 1, 2023
- Free to participate
- Cash prizes for youth (up to $1000)
- Regional winners advance to statewide round of judging
- Award Ceremony in May
Submission Categories
- Suicide Prevention
- Mental Health
- Through the Lens of Culture
- Walk in Our Shoes
- Animated Short
- Hope and Justice
Featured Film
For contest rules, submission category details, entry form and other information visit www.DirectingChangeCA.org
Statewide Winners Announced in Annual Directing Change Film Contest
Statewide winners in all categories were announced by the Directing Change Program & Film Contest! Two student-created films from San Diego County (“Truth Heals” and “A Genderqueer Perspective”) were screened at a red-carpet award ceremony hosted at the Theatre at Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, May 16th. Congratulations to the filmmakers who placed!
San Diego County statewide winners:
- Statewide Suicide Prevention Finalist: “Truth Heals”
- Statewide Mental Health Finalist: “A Genderqueer Perspective”
- Third Place Through the Lens of Culture (Tie): “Mentally Changed”
- Honorable Mention Through the Lens of Culture: “Intersectional Mental Health”
- Honorable Mention Through the Lens of Culture: “Hope”
- Honorable Mention Through the Lens of Culture: “Life Expectations”
- Honorable Mention Walk in Our Shoes – What is Mental Health: “Half Court to Health”
San Diego County Youth Place in April Hope & Justice Contest
April’s Hope & Justice contest asked youth to share actions young people can take to improve and support the world we live in to celebrate Earth Day. Congratulations to the youth from San Diego County who placed in the contest!
Feeling inspired? Check-out more Hope and Justice art and film submissions from San Diego County youth.
- First Place April Tik Tok challenge: “Living Better!” by Itzel Ventura Medina
- Second Place April monthly prompt: “Ode to Earth” by Eloise Herrera
- Honorable Mention April monthly prompt: “Our Responsibility to the Earth” by Joy Herrera
- Honorable Mention Hope and Justice: “Will you braid the Earth’s hair, too?” by Anonymous
View the full list of April winners across California here.
San Diego County Students Recognized for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Achievements
The Directing Change Program & Film Contest announced the regional finalists in the 11th annual student contest encouraging young people to create short films and art projects about suicide prevention and mental health.
- Second Place Suicide Prevention (Region1): “Truth Heals”
- Honorable Mention Suicide Prevention (Region1): “Despues de la Tormenta”
- Honorable Mention Suicide Prevention (Region1): “Depressions Fuel”
- Honorable Mention Suicide Prevention (Region1): “Preventing Suicide”
- Honorable Mention Suicide Prevention (Region1): “Talking Helps”
- Third Place Mental Health (Tie) (Region1): “Smiling Through Depression”
- Honorable Mention Mental Health (Region1): “Burnout”
- Honorable Mention Mental Health (Region1): “A Genderqueer Perspective”
- Honorable Mention Mental Health (Region1): “Never Alone”
- Honorable Mention Mental Health (Region1): “People Talk”
- Honorable Mention Mental Health (Region1): “La Salud Mental”
View all 2023 winning films here.
San Diego County Youth Place in February Hope & Justice Contest
February’s Hope & Justice contest asked youth to share how they are “More Than One,” reflecting on how they’re living beyond labels, how they find strength when they feel alone, and their hopes for increased representation in the future. Congratulations to the youth from San Diego County who placed in the contest!
Feeling inspired? Check-out more Hope and Justice art and film submissions from San Diego County youth.
- First Place Monthly Prompt, Film and Written Works: “First I’m Human” by Joslyn Herrera
- Honorable Mention Monthly Prompt, Middle School Art: “Frida Kahlo” by Samantha Villanueva
- Honorable Mention Monthly Prompt, Middle School Art: “Colors of Mexico” by Aylee Martinez
View the full list of February winners across California here.
San Diego County Youth Place in January Hope & Justice Contest
January’s Hope & Justice contest asked youth to reflect on their hopes for 2023 and the changes they want to see in themselves and their communities. Congratulations to the youth from San Diego County who placed in the contest! Feeling inspired? Check-out more Hope and Justice art submissions and film submissions from San Diego County youth.
- First Place Monthly Prompt – TikTok Challenge: “Let’s restart” by Itzel Ventura Medina, Chula Vista Learning Community Charter School
- Third Place (Tie) Monthly Prompt: “A Fresh Start” by Joslyn Herrera, Sweetwater Secondary School
View the full list of January winners across California here.
San Diego County Schools Receive Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Mini Grants
Six schools from San Diego County have been selected to receive a grant through the Directing Change Program for the 2022-2023 school year. Grantees will receive support from the Directing Change team to teach lessons on mental health and suicide prevention and to facilitate the creation of youth-produced short films on these topics. At the end of the year, they will host events to screen their films and share resources around youth mental health and suicide prevention. Congratulations to this year’s grantees!
- Canyon Hills High School
- Helix Charter High School
- Sage Creek High School
- San Diego Met High School
- San Pasqual Union
- SIATech Charter Schools
San Diego County Youth Place in November Hope & Justice Contest
November’s Hope & Justice contest asked youth to reflect on someone who has inspired them, supported them, or used their influence for good. Participants selected a “Mental Health Hero” as their focus, using their chosen artform to highlight someone who helps others see the possibilities within themselves, inspiring them to overcome and do great things with their lives. Congratulations to the youth from San Diego County who placed in the contest!
- First Place – Film and Written Works: “Callused Hands” by Joslyn Herrera, Sweetwater Secondary
- Second Place (Tie) – Art: “Reggie; Our Mentor” by Sierra Mercedes Adele Craft Wiseman and Andrew Alexander Hermosillo, General Raymond Murray High School
- Honorable Mention – Film and Written Works: “The Hero in You” by Joslyn Herrera, Sweetwater Secondary
- Honorable Mention – Film and Written Works: “Save Yourself” by Itzel Ventura-Medina, Chula Vista Learning Community Charter School
- Honorable Mention – Hope and Justice: “Justice for Hope” by Jackson Ellis, Helix Charter School
View the full list of November winners here.
San Diego County Students Recognized for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Achievements
The Directing Change Program & Film Contest announced the 2022 regional finalists in the 10th annual student contest encouraging young people to create short films and about suicide prevention and mental health. First place finalists advanced to a statewide round of judging and statewide winners were announced at the virtual award ceremony on May 17, 2022.
- First Place Walk in Our Shoes – The Superhero in Each of Us: Rancho Minerva Middle School “Dear Future Me”
- Second Place Walk in Our Shoes – What is Mental Health & Words Matter – TIED: Rancho Minerva Middle School “Fingerprints”
- Second Place Walk in Our Shoes – What is Mental Health & Words Matter – TIED: Rancho Minerva Middle School “Un-Silent”
- Second Place Hope and Justice – Justice: Canyon Hills High School “Missing Kids of Color Diary PSA”
- Third Place Hope and Justice – Hope: Rancho Minerva Middle School “What Are You Waiting For?”
San Diego County Schools Receive Suicide Prevention Mini Grants
Six schools and youth-based clubs from San Diego County have been selected to receive a grant through the Directing Change Mini Grant Program in the 2021-2022 school year. Each team will work with youth in their communities to teach lessons on mental health and suicide prevention and support youth as they create short films on these topics. These grantees will also be hosting events at the end of the school year to share the films and raise awareness in their communities around youth mental health and suicide prevention. Congratulations to this year’s grantees!
- Hillsdale Middle
- Canyon Hills High School
- Dimensions Collaborative School (DCS)
- San Pasqual Middle School
- Sage Creek High School GSA
- Helix High School NAMI On Campus Club
San Diego Access and Crisis Line
Operates 24/7. Call if you are concerned about someone, just need to talk, have questions about how to offer support, or if you are looking for information about community resources, mental health referrals, and alcohol and drug support services.
