San Diego County
- Open to youth ages 12-25
- Deadline: January 31, 2026
- 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 film, podcast, or art piece about what you wish your parents (or other adults) knew about the warning signs of suicide, what life is like as a young person today, or the importance of supporting youth mental health.
- TikTok Challenge: TikTok Challenge: Every TikTok submitted in response to prompt receives a $20 gift card and a chance to win a $100 grand prize.
- Download the flyer and submit entries here
- Learn more at Hope & Justice contest page
Hope & Justice Prompt:
What I Wish My Parents Knew
Featured Art
“Never a Bother”
Sweetwater Secondary
Artwork by: Joslyn Herrera
“I hope this piece helps others to see that their worries are never a bother. I’ve always been a great ear for friends and family, and I’m glad to be someone comforting to talk to.”
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
Mini Grant Application Due October 10th
Mini Grant Opportunity! Schools and organizations are invited to apply for Directing Change mini grants this program year. Mini grant teams receive up to $1,500 and commit to creating 5 films for the Directing Change Program, teaching at least one lesson on suicide prevention or mental health, and hosting a student-led event in which their youth films are shared.
Apply here by October 10: http://youthcreatingchange.org/2026-mini-grant-application
San Diego County Students Recognized for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Achievements
Youth Creating Change announced the regional finalists in its 13th annual Directing Change Film Contest encouraging young people to create short films and art projects about suicide prevention and mental health.
- First Place Suicide Prevention (Region 1): “The Conversation”
- Third Place Suicide Prevention (Region 1): “To Whom it May Concern”
- Third Place Animated Short (Statewide): “A Call for Help”
- Fourth Place Animated Short (Statewide): “When You Need Me Most”
- Third Place Walk in Our Shoes (Mental Health) (Statewide): “Drowning”
In addition to the films above, numerous other fantastic films from San Diego County also received “Honorable Mention” in their respective categories. View all 2025 winning films here.
San Diego County Youth Place in January Hope & Justice Contest
Our 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 sharing the uplifting power of music and its relationship to mental health (Monthly Prompt).
- First Place Monthly Prompt (Original Music): “The Music Flows” by Cole Davenport, Kristina Tran, and Branden Reyes
Feeling inspired? Check out more Hope and Justice art and film submissions from San Diego County youth.
View the full list of January winners across California here.
San Diego County Youth Place in May Hope & Justice Contest
Our May 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), the impact of social media on mental health (Monthly Prompt). Feeling inspired? Check-out more Hope and Justice art and film submissions from San Diego County youth.
Feeling inspired? Checkout more Hope and Justice art and film submissions from San Diego County youth.
- First Place TikTok Challenge: “Snap, Filter & Swipe” by Siraj Mohamed
View the full list of May winners across California here.
San Diego County Youth Place in April Hope & Justice Contest
The April 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? Checkout more Hope and Justice art and film submissions from San Diego County youth.
- Third Place Monthly Prompt (High School): “Finding Strength” by Joslyn Herrera
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 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.
If at any time you are experiencing an emotional crisis, are thinking about suicide or are concerned about someone call the Riverside County HELPline at (951) 686-HELP (4357) or text HOME to 741-741 to connect with the Crisis Text Line. Both of these are available 24/7.
