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Directing Change

6 Events – Orange

Tags: Orange
Film Description:

News and Awards

Orange 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 Orange County who placed in the contest!

  • Second Place – Film and Written Works: “Coach Veronica’s Journey” by Sharon Chen, Emma Suh, Jonathan Kim, and Josiah Lee, Portola High School

View the full list of November winners here.


Orange County Students Receive First Place in Statewide Film Contest

The Directing Change Program hosted the 10th annual Awards Ceremony virtually on May 17th, 2022 at 7 p.m. The live event streamed to hundreds of people as the organization announced the statewide winners of the 2022 contest and recognized amazing youth and their inspiring films. Youth filmmakers from across California were given awards for their short films to raise awareness about mental health and suicide prevention in several categories, including Mental Health Matters, Suicide Prevention, Through the Lens of Culture, Walk in Our Shoes, Animated Short, and Hope and Justice. Across California, 939 films were submitted by 2434 students. Two films from Orange County students took home first place awards:

  • Students Tahlia Pompel, Samantha Mar, Scarlett Martinez, and Caleb Lim from El Dorado High School were awarded the statewide first place prize in the Mental Health Matters category for their film “Alone.”
  • Student Scott Hayashida from Canyon High School was awarded the statewide first place prize in the Hope & Justice – Justice category for his film “Heritage Held High.”

To watch the recorded awards ceremony, please click here.


Orange County Students Recognized for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Achievement

The Directing Change Program & Film Contest announced the regional finalists in the 10th annual student contest encouraging young people to create short films and about suicide prevention and mental health.

  • First Place Suicide Prevention (Region 1): Portola High School “A Call to Macy”
  • Second Place Suicide Prevention (Region 1): Santiago High School “Suicide Prevention”
  • Third Place Suicide Prevention – TIED (Region 1): Woodbridge High School “One Call Away”
  • Third Place Suicide Prevention – TIED (Region 1): La Quinta High School “Crowd Noises”
  • First Place Mental Health Matters (Region 1): El Dorado High School “Alone”
  • Second Place Mental Health Matters (Region 1): Rosary Academy “The Anxious Mind”
  • First Place Hope & Justice – Justice: Canyon High School “Heritage Held High”
  • Third Place Hope & Justice – Justice: NAMI “Stop Childhood Sexual Abuse”
  • Fifth Place Animated Short – TIED: Samueli Academy “Know Who To Lend A Hand To”

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If you are experiencing an emotional crisis, are thinking about suicide or are concerned about a friend call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline immediately: 1-800-273-8255This is a free 24-hour hotline.
Directing Change is part of statewide efforts to prevent suicide, reduce stigma and discrimination 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), an organization of county governments working to improve mental health outcomes for individuals, families and communities.
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