Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo
California Department of Education
Official Letter
California Department of Education
Official Letter
January 12, 2023

Dear County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and Middle and High School Principals:

Supporting the Annual Directing Change Program Student Film Contest

The California Department of Education (CDE) is pleased to support the annual Directing Change Program and Film Contest. This event is sponsored by the California Mental Health Services Authority as part of a collaborative statewide effort to prevent suicide. This contest also seeks to reduce stigma and discrimination related to mental illness while highlighting the importance of student mental health and wellness.

This statewide program invites California students from grades six through twelve to create 60-second films about suicide prevention, mental health, and other health-related topics to support awareness, education, and advocacy. Film submissions are due at midnight on Wednesday, March 1, 2023.

We encourage schools to integrate these films into school activities and use them to educate and inform students and staff about suicide prevention and mental health. These films are brief and easy to include in any class assignment. These films can be particularly helpful as schools plan for the implementation of mental health instruction required by Senate Bill 224.

Directing Change also supports implementation and expansion of school-based mental health and suicide prevention awareness efforts and can help your school meet the state requirements for implementing suicide prevention policies as required by California Education Code Section 215. Schools that participate in the program receive prevention resources and are offered trainings and technical assistance in the areas of suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. For more information about the Directing Change Program and Film Contest, including available resources to support your school’s prevention efforts, please visit the Directing Change website at https://directingchangeca.org/. For more information on how to implement suicide prevention policies, please visit the CDE Youth Suicide Prevention web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/cg/mh/suicideprevres.asp.

I encourage all school staff to promote this contest across their middle and high school campuses. Improving student mental health is a component of the CDE’s Transforming Schools Initiative and is one of my top priorities as your Superintendent. Our collaboration will elevate the student perspective on health, wellness, and suicide prevention in our school communities. We stand with you as you work to preserve the health, safety, and well-being of students and families during this difficult time.

If you have any questions, please contact Stan Collins, Program Coordinator, Directing Change, at Stan@SuicideIsPreventable.org, or Rico Petrino, Education Programs Consultant, CDE Office of School-Based Health Programs, at 916-319-0229 or rpetrino@cde.ca.gov.

Sincerely,

Tony Thurmond
State Superintendent of Public Instruction

TT:mn
Last Reviewed: Thursday, January 12, 2023

Recently Posted in Letters

  • 2023 High School Voter Education Weeks (added 21-Mar-2023)
    Joint letter from the California Department of Education and the California Secretary of State to County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and High School Principals regarding High School Voter Education Weeks.
  • Universal PreKindergarten (added 17-Mar-2023)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and Early Education Program Leaders regarding connecting with families about Universal PreKindergarten.
  • Webinar to Help Students Read by Third Grade (added 14-Mar-2023)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators regarding the CDE webinar to help students read by third grade and to support the achievement of black students.
  • 2023 Classified School Employees of the Year (added 07-Mar-2023)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and School Principals regarding the 2023 Classified School Employees of the Year Program.
  • Reducing Chronic Absence Webinar (added 01-Mar-2023)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators regarding the CDE Reducing Chronic Absence through Expanded Learning Programs and Existing School Resources webinar.

  • Webinar Addressing Disproportionate Discipline (added 27-Feb-2023)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators regarding the CDE Addressing Disproportionate Discipline in Schools webinar.
  • Reducing Disproportionate Discipline in Schools (added 22-Feb-2023)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators regarding reducing disproportionate discipline in schools.
  • Youth Advisory Council Applications Open (added 06-Feb-2023)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and High School Principals regarding applications for membership on the Youth Advisory Council.
  • 2023 National Youth Science Camp (added 03-Feb-2023)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and High School Principals regarding the 2023 National Youth Science Camp.
  • Teacher Career Fairs to Boost Teacher Recruitment (added 02-Feb-2023)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators regarding teacher career fairs and strategies to bolster teacher recruitment.