San Diego County
- Open to youth ages 12-25
- Deadline: April 30
- Free to participate
- Amazon Gift Cards (up to $300)
- All art forms accepted (visual art, film, written works, TikTok, original music and more)
- Create a poem, video, or other creative piece that shows how you cope when life gets tough. Show us your hacks for dealing with setbacks or keeping hope alive when things look dark.
- Decoded is an educational campaign funded by counties and cities throughout California that aims to support young people in their overall well-being both physically and mentally.
- Learn more about April and May’s prompts by visiting the Hope & Justice contest page
- Get inspired by visiting the Virtual Gallery
April 2024 Monthly Prompt: Decoded
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
San Diego County Students Recognized for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Achievements
The Directing Change Program & Film Contest announced the regional finalists in the 12th annual student contest encouraging young people to create short films and art projects about suicide prevention and mental health.
- First Place Suicide Prevention (Region 1): “See the Signs”
- Second Place Suicide Prevention (Region 1, Team Pick): “Reach Out”
- Third Place Suicide Prevention (Region 1, Tie): “Don’t be Afraid to Ask …”
- Third Place Mental Health (Region 1): “Harpo”
In addition to the films above, other fantastic films from San Diego County also received awards in various specialty categories, as well as “Honorable Mention” in their respective categories. View all 2024 winning films here.
San Diego County Youth Place in February Hope & Justice Contest
The February contest asked youth to create art, films, written works, or audio pieces about how they cope with tough times (Hope), the changes they want to see in their communities (Justice), and reassuring young people that they are never a bother and can share their feelings with others (Monthly Prompt).
Feeling inspired? Check out more Hope and Justice art and film submissions from San Diego County youth.
- First Place Monthly Prompt (High School): “Never a Bother” by Reese Bieschke, Sydnie Pitzer, and Myla Pitzer
- Third Place Monthly Prompt (High School): “I’m Sorry to Bother You” by Joslyn Herrera
- First Place Monthly Prompt (TikTok Challenge) – Tie: “Of Course You Can Bother Me” by Daniela Silva, Alli Walker, and Kaylie Thaxton Barney
- First Place Monthly Prompt (TikTok Challenge) – Tie: “Through the Lens of Culture” by Siraj Mohamed, Meaza Teklu, Bethuel Goytiom, Hemen Alemu, Mohamed, and Alejandro
View the full list of February winners across California here.
San Diego County Youth Place in December/January Hope & Justice Contest
The December/January contest asked youth to create art, films, written works, or audio pieces about how they cope with tough times (Hope), the changes they want to see in their communities (Justice), and what they wish their parents and other adults knew about youth mental health (Monthly Prompt).
Feeling inspired? Checkout more Hope and Justice art and film submissions from San Diego County youth.
- Second Place Hope & Justice: “One Note Can Go a Long Way” by Natalie Chen, Sebastian Briceno-Mahr, Lucian Lasher, and Harrison Routh
- Second Place (Tie) Monthly Prompt (Music/Podcasts/Written Work – College and High School): “I Wish” by Joslyn Herrera
View the full list of December/January winners across California here.
San Diego County Youth Place in November Hope & Justice Contest
November’s contest asked youth to create art, films, or written works about how they cope with tough times (Hope), the changes they want to see in their communities (Justice), and the uplifting power of music (Monthly Prompt).
Feeling inspired? Checkout more Hope and Justice art and film submissions from San Diego County youth.
- First Place Hope & Justice: “Embrace the Light Within” by Joslyn Herrera
- Honorable Mention Monthly Prompt (Original Music): “A Walk in the Garden” by Carrianne Bee
View the full list of November winners across California here.
San Diego County Youth Place in September Hope & Justice Contest
September’s contest asked youth to create art, films, or written works about how they cope with tough times (Hope), the changes they want to see in their communities (Justice), and their “anchor” (Monthly Prompt), which could be a hobby or activity, a form of self-care, or any little thing that brings joy, helps them cope, and reminds them about their reason for living.
Feeling inspired? Checkout more Hope and Justice art and film submissions from San Diego County youth.
- Second Place Monthly Prompt – Film and Written Works: “S.T.O.P” by Joslyn Herrera
View the full list of September winners across California here.
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 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.
