Important Note: Directing Change rules have been updated. Directing Change rules updated! There is now no limit on the number of submissions from a school. Schools are encouraged to submit multiple videos in each category.
In addition to supporting this learning opportunity for your students, there are other benefits for schools to encourage their students to enter:
- Receive cash! The school associated with winning entries receives a cash prize!
(1st prize $1000; 2nd prize $750; 3rd prize $500.)
- Win a suicide prevention or mental health program! For every Intent to Direct Form we receive (and that turns into a submission), the associated school will be entered into a drawing for a free suicide prevention program.
Students can produce the videos either in a class room setting, as an after-school activity or outside-of-the-school setting. However, schools are asked to assist students in identifying an adult advisor at their school. The role of the student advisor is to:
- Review the video to ensure the content is appropriate for a general viewing audience, appropriate for school use and adheres to your school’s policies, rules, and guidelines.
- Submit the entry form on behalf of the student(s).
- Keep on file all of the signed release forms, likeness releases, location releases, and copyright permissions along with a DVD copy of EACH film produced/submitted by the student/school.
The advisor does not need to have knowledge of or expertise in film making or the subject matter (suicide prevention and mental health). To help your school integrate this contest into your school activities with ease, and also to provide you with further information on suicide prevention in the school setting we have prepared these materials for you:
- Suicide Prevention: A Toolkit for Schools: Recently, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration released this publication to assist high schools and school districts in designing and implementing strategies to prevent suicide and promote behavioral health. It includes tools to implement a multi-faceted suicide prevention program that responds to the needs and cultures of students.
- Suicide Prevention Program Overview: Provides a list of, and links to, suicide prevention programs and resources registered on the Suicide Prevention Resource Center’s (SPRC) Best Practices Registry, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices.
- PowerPoint Presentation: This brief presentation is intended to be reviewed by an adult advisor on campus, and then shared with students. Not intended to take the place of a comprehensive suicide prevention program, the presentation offers a brief overview of suicide prevention and details about the contest. Click Here for PDF Version
