Youth-Led Mental Health Awareness Through Creative Expression: The Directing Change Initiative

The Directing Change initiative represents an innovative approach to mental health awareness and suicide prevention that centers youth voices through creative expression. This program, implemented across California schools and communities, has established a unique platform for young people to address mental health challenges while developing their artistic skills and leadership abilities. The initiative demonstrates how peer education and creative expression can effectively reduce stigma, increase help-seeking behaviors, and transform school climates into more supportive environments.

Program Overview and Structure

The Directing Change Film Contest serves as the signature program of Youth Creating Change, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting youth-led initiatives focused on mental health, suicide prevention, and social justice. The contest invites youth aged 12-25 or in grades 6-12 and college to create 60-second short films and art projects that spark conversation and reduce stigma around mental health concerns. These creative projects serve as powerful tools for education, awareness, and peer support.

The program operates through a structured framework that includes:

Annual film contest with specific mental health and suicide prevention themes
Curriculum and training resources for educators and youth leaders
Regional and statewide recognition events, including a red carpet awards ceremony
Implementation support through partnerships with organizations like Tri-City Mental Health

In its twelfth year, the contest attracted significant participation, with 1,315 film submissions from 3,810 youth representing 209 California schools and community-based organizations. This widespread engagement demonstrates the program's resonance with young people across diverse communities.

Implementation in Educational Settings

Schools and youth-serving organizations have adopted the Directing Change program through various implementation models tailored to their specific contexts. Some educational institutions have integrated the program into existing curricula, while others have established dedicated student groups focused on mental health advocacy.

At Los Alamitos High School, a video production class produced the winning film in the Mental Health Category at the Directing Change Film Contest, demonstrating how creative arts education can intersect with mental health awareness. Similarly, Club Live at McGarvin Intermediate School in the Garden Grove Unified School District organized mental health fairs to educate peers and provide valuable resources.

The Student Advocates for Mental Health (SAMH) program represents another implementation model, guiding student advocates to develop and implement mental health projects in their schools. During the 2023-2024 school year alone, SAMH supported 1,065 student advocates from 43 schools who implemented 56 mental health projects, reaching an estimated 30,000 students, 1,100 staff and 1,500 parents.

Impact and Outcomes

The Directing Change initiative has demonstrated substantial impact on school communities and individual participants. Program evaluation data indicates that over 90 percent of those impacted reported learning something new from the program's resources and events. More significantly, more than 90 percent of the same group indicated they now know where to seek help for mental health concerns, addressing a critical barrier to early intervention.

Research suggests that 61 percent of young people experience obstacles in accessing professional mental health care. The Directing Change program addresses this gap by empowering youth to educate and advocate for each other, creating alternative pathways for support and information dissemination. As Antoinette Mayer, Blue Shield of California vice president of Corporate Citizenship, noted, "It's one thing for adults to talk to youth about mental health, but this film contest allows youth to engage their peers. Through artistic expression, students are talking about mental health challenges and how to cope. This opens doors in classrooms, in communities, and most importantly, in young people's minds."

The program has also contributed to positive shifts in school climate, with increased student willingness to talk about important health topics. This represents a critical step in normalizing conversations about mental health and creating environments where young people feel comfortable seeking support.

Student Experiences and Testimonials

The transformative impact of the Directing Change initiative is perhaps most evident in the personal stories of student participants. Jayden McKnight, a senior at Highland Park High School, shared his experience: "I've learned a bit about, not only just how to approach people with mental health issues, but if I'm going through a mental health issue myself, to open up and seek help." This dual benefit—developing skills to support peers while strengthening personal help-seeking behaviors—highlights the program's comprehensive approach to youth mental health.

Reggie Hernandez, also a senior at Highland Park High School, had his film earn honorable mention out of 1,300 films submitted across the state. Such recognition validates students' creative efforts while amplifying their mental health messages to broader audiences.

San Diego County high school students Zahid Perez-Cruz and Savannah Stephens exemplify how the program empowers young people to address their own mental health challenges while supporting peers. Their film "Reach Out," which features TV videos of a young person growing up juxtaposed with audio of friends leaving voicemails, explores the sorrow of someone contemplating suicide. Both students have firsthand experience with how the pandemic, social media, and the news have impacted their mental health and that of their peers.

For many participants, the experience has been profoundly transformative. One anonymous student shared: "The Student Advocates for Mental Health program has been one of the most important activities I've part of in high school. Not only has it allowed me to bring mental health awareness and change to my school, but it has personally helped me become a better advocate and support for my friends."

Program Components and Educational Value

The Directing Change curriculum equips young people with critical mental health and substance use knowledge while providing vital tools for creative self-expression. Participating students learn to:

Recognize warning signs of suicide
Apply healthy coping strategies
Take steps toward seeking help for themselves or peers
Develop communication skills for discussing mental health concerns
Create compelling messages that resonate with peers

The program's emphasis on youth leadership ensures that messaging remains authentic and relevant to young audiences. As Stephens noted, "Being there, supporting each other, talking and reaching out is super important. I want people to realize just how much their life means." This peer-to-peer approach contrasts with adult-led initiatives, which may inadvertently discount young people's perspectives or experiences.

Stan Collins, a co-founder of Youth Creating Change, emphasizes the importance of early intervention: "Let's normalize conversations about little hurts so that we're not sweeping it under the rug and hiding it in the closet until it becomes a combustible situation." This preventive approach aligns with public health models that address mental health concerns before they escalate into crises.

Partnerships and Regional Expansion

The Directing Change initiative has expanded through strategic partnerships with mental health organizations, educational institutions, and state agencies. Tri-City Mental Health, for example, partnered with Youth Creating Change to support implementation of the Directing Change mental health and suicide prevention curriculum in Claremont, La Verne, and Pomona—collectively known as the Tri-City area.

This free, arts-based program empowers young people to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and build empathy through film, art, and storytelling, while equipping educators and youth leaders with impactful tools to support student well-being. Within the Tri-City region, students have consistently earned top honors in regional and statewide contests, demonstrating the program's effectiveness across diverse communities.

The California Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) has also partnered with Youth Creating Change to launch a media challenge specifically focused on the mental health and wellbeing of boys and young men. This initiative addresses a critical need, as Movember's research indicates that 71% of men aged 16 to 25 report feeling isolated from others. First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom highlighted the importance of this focus: "In this ever-evolving digital era, too many of our young boys and men feel disconnected, unseen, and alone in their mental health struggles. We all share a responsibility to normalize asking for help and support – on and offline."

Conclusion

The Directing Change initiative represents an innovative, evidence-based approach to youth mental health awareness that leverages creative expression and peer leadership. By centering young people's voices and experiences, the program has created sustainable models for mental health education that resonate authentically with target audiences. The substantial reach and impact documented across California schools demonstrate how arts-based initiatives can effectively reduce stigma, increase help-seeking behaviors, and transform school climates into more supportive environments.

The program's success stems from several key factors: its youth-led approach ensures messaging remains relevant and authentic; the creative component provides multiple pathways for engagement; and the structured recognition system motivates participation while amplifying students' voices. As Jana Sczersputowski, executive director of Youth Creating Change, notes, "Placing youth at the center of their own well-being creates the possibility for real change. The films inspire adults to truly listen. This helps youth feel seen and heard, reach out for help and keep sharing their stories."

Moving forward, the continued expansion of the Directing Change initiative through regional partnerships and targeted campaigns—such as the recent focus on boys and young men—promises to further normalize conversations about mental health and equip young people with the knowledge and skills needed to support themselves and their peers. By fostering environments where mental health is openly discussed and help-seeking is encouraged, these programs contribute to early intervention and prevention efforts that can positively impact trajectories of youth mental health and wellbeing.