2016 Statewide High School Winners
Mental Health Matters
First Place: “The Journey”
Marin County
Redwood High School
Student Names: Benedict Conran, Thomas Hayden Smeltzer, Asha Cummings and Dominique Cruz
Advisor Name: Peter Parish
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Second Place: “Off the Script”
Butte County
Pleasant Valley High School
Student Names: Ryan Martin and Kaden White
Advisor Name: Michael Peck
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Third Place: “Naivete”
Orange County
Canyon High School
Student Names: Nick Jackson, Susie Anderson, Ethan Burk, and Cassidy Keith
Advisor Name: Alex Graham
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Suicide Prevention
First Place: “The Guides of Life”
Sacramento County
Franklin High School
Student Names: Ryan Santiago
Advisor Name: Brad Clark
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Second Place: “A Hand of Hope”
Alameda County
Mission San Jose High School
Student Name: Hanlin Wang, Michelle Zhang, Emily Shiang, Vincent Chiang
Advisor Name: Nina LaRosa
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Third Place: “Leap of Faith”
Riverside County
Murrieta Valley High School
Student Names: Benjamin Finnie
Advisor Name: Ella Harrison
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2016 High School Regional Winners – Suicide Prevention
Region 1 & 3
San Diego, Orange, and Los Angeles County
*First Place: “Reach Out” (Advancing to statewide round of judging)
Los Angeles County
Leuzinger High School
Student Names: Carlos Aguirre
Advisor Name: Sean Hiller
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Second Place (tied): “Prevail From Darkness”
Los Angeles County
Helen Bernstein High School
Student Names: Yasmine Ibourk, Chris Porter
Advisor Name: Marvin Alexander
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Second Place (tied): “Overcoming Your Shadow”
San Diego County
Torrey Pines High School Peer Assistant Listeners
Student Names: Avery Spicker, Ellena Whitfield, Anna Brooks Reed, Akhil Perimbeti
Advisor Name: Don Collins
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Third Place: “OKAY.”
Los Angeles County
Northview High School
Student Names: Thea Adlao, Daniella Alaniz, Darlene Acero, Yazmine Rodriguez
Advisor Name: Diane Atherton
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Region 2
Riverside and San Bernardino County
*First Place: “Leap of Faith” (Advancing to statewide round of judging)
Riverside County
Murrieta Valley High School
Student Names: Benjamin Finnie
Advisor Name: Ella Harrison
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Second Place: “My Little Universe”
Riverside County
Vista Murrieta High School
Student Names: AJ Pena
Advisor Name: Mike Verkouteren
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Third Place: “Keep No Secrets”
Riverside County
Murrieta Valley High School
Student Names: Carolann Lepe
Advisor Name: Ella Harrison
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*Honorable Mention “The Life Saving Letter” (Directing Change Team Pick- Advancing to statewide round of judging)
Riverside County
Valley View High School
Student Names: Brianna DeVoe, Ricardo Mendoza and Brian Dickerson
Advisor Name: Chris Lorenz
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Honorable Mention “To Live, or Not to Live”
Riverside County
Murrieta Valley High School
Student Names: Caleb Whiting
Advisor Name: Ella Harrison
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Region 4
Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, San Francisco, Kern, Kings, Tulare, Inyo, Mono, Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, Merced
*First Place: “A Hand of Hope” (Advancing to statewide round of judging)
Alameda County
Mission San Jose High School
Student Name: Hanlin Wang, Michelle Zhang, Emily Shiang, Vincent Chiang
Advisor Name: Nina LaRosa
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Second Place: “Tuff”
Contra Costa County
Salesian College Preparatory
Student Name: Jason Cordis, Veronica Bautista, Anthony Grybinas, Joshua Alvarez
Advisor Name: Janet O’Hair
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Third Place: “Behind the Scenes”
Alameda County
Foothill High School
Student Names: Cassie Wang, Saad Hassan, Abdullah Qureshi and David Hong
Advisor Name: Scott Sears
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Region 5
Marin, Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake, Tuolumne, Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Sacramento, Calaveras, Amador, Alpine, El Dorado, Placer, Nevada, Sierra, Yuba, Sutter, Yolo, Colusa, Butte, Glenn, Plumas, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Tehama, Trinity, Siskiyou, Humboldt, Del Norte,
*First Place: “The Guides of Life” (Advancing to statewide round of judging)
Sacramento County
Franklin High School
Student Names: Ryan Santiago
Advisor Name: Brad Clark
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*Second Place: “A Conversation Can Save a Life” (Directing Change Team Pick- Advancing to statewide round of judging)
Sonoma County
El Molino High School
Student Names: Alex Diaz Pena
Advisor Name: Seth Friesen
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Third Place: “Roadside Assistance”
Butte County
Pleasant Valley High School
Student Name: Nate Hopkins and Rob Barber
Advisor Name: Michael Peck
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2016 High School Regional Winners – Mental Health Matters
Region 1 & 3
San Diego, Orange, and Los Angeles County
*First Place (tied): “This is Me” (Advancing to statewide round of judging)
San Diego County
Torrey Pines High School
Student Names: Chelsea Barrows, Kiya Klopfenstein, Grace Bashour, and Paige Straky
Advisor Name: Donald Collins
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*First Place (tied): “Naivete” (Advancing to statewide round of judging)
Orange County
Canyon High School
Student Names: Nick Jackson, Susie Anderson, Ethan Burk, and Cassidy Keith
Advisor Name: Alex Graham
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Second Place: “They Don’t Know”
Orange County
Laguna Beach High School
Student Names: Hailey Meister
Advisor Name: Melinda Hawkins
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Third Place: “Textbooks”
San Diego County
Torrey Pines High School
Student Names: Madison Wickham, Christopher Vilchis, Jaden Watkins, and Paytin Lalonde
Advisor Name: Don Collins
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Region 2
Riverside and San Bernardino County
*First Place: “Black and White” (Advancing to statewide round of judging)
Riverside County
Murrieta Valley High School
Student Names: John Kroesche
Advisor Name: Ella Harrison
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Second Place: “Submerged”
San Bernardino County
Ruben S. Ayala High School
Student Names: Macy Caron
Advisor Name: Kevin Russell
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Third Place: “Don’t Tape It In”
Riverside County
Santiago High School
Student Name: Arturo Morales
Advisor Name: Jemi Thompson
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Honorable Mention “Open the Door”
Riverside County
Murrieta Valley High School
Student Names: Elizabeth Prowse, Emma Lorenz, Brian Evans
Advisor Name: Ella Harrison
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Region 4
Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, San Francisco, Kern, Kings, Tulare, Inyo, Mono, Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, Merced
*First Place: “Dear Amanda” (Advancing to statewide round of judging)
Alameda County
Mission San Jose High School
Student Name: Melissa Zhuang and Lucille Njoo
Advisor Name: Edie Christensen
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Second Place: “Start the Change”
Madera County
Minarets Charter High School
Student Name: Delaney Finnegan
Advisor Name: Juan Ortiz
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Third Place: “Stand Up to Stigma”
Fresno County
Duncan Polytechnical High School
Student Names: Jordan Tijerina, Sarah Vang, Gabriel Longinos and Phillip Prudhume
Advisor Name: John Greico
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Honorable Mention “Shades of Silence”
Alameda County
Irvington High School
Student Name: Tiffany Lin
Advisor Name: Christina Faitel
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Honorable Mention “More Than a Label”
Madera County
Madera South High School
Student Name: David Vargas and Ivan Pimentel
Advisor Name: Todd McElrath
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Region 5
Marin, Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake, Tuolumne, Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Sacramento, Calaveras, Amador, Alpine, El Dorado, Placer, Nevada, Sierra, Yuba, Sutter, Yolo, Colusa, Butte, Glenn, Plumas, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Tehama, Trinity, Siskiyou, Humboldt, Del Norte,
*First Place: “The Journey” (Advancing to statewide round of judging)
Marin County
Redwood High School
Student Names: Benedict Conran, Thomas Hayden Smeltzer, Asha Cummings and Dominique Cruz
Advisor Name: Peter Parish
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Second Place: “Behind Closed Doors”
Butte County
Pleasant Valley High School
Student Names: Joshua Boelman and Thelonious Aull
Advisor Name: Michael Peck
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Third Place: “Understand the Feeling”
Placer County
Whitney High School
Student Name: Jaida Sandhu, Samantha Shelton, Sarah Karver
Advisor Name: Ben Barnholdt
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*”Off the Script” (Directing Change Team Pick- Advancing to statewide round of judging)
Butte County
Pleasant Valley High School
Student Names: Ryan Martin and Kaden White
Advisor Name: Michael Peck
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*“The Full Story” (Directing Change Team Pick- Advancing to statewide round of judging)
Butte County
Pleasant Valley High School
Student Name: Cameron Farrell and Megan Shea
Advisor Name: Michael Peck
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Honorable Mention “Anxiety Builds”
Sacramento County
Elk Grove High School
Student Names: Justin Stefanescu, McKinley Hutchings, Karlye Clement, Kylee McConnell
Advisor Name: Jennifer Moore
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Honorable Mention “The Pieces of Me”
Sacramento County
Elk Grove High School
Student Names: Britny Clayberger, Melody Keenan, Noel Bennett, and Melanie Good
Advisor Name: Jennifer Moore
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2016 Youth and Young Adult Winners- Suicide Prevention
*First Place: “I Have Walked In Your Shoes (Recognized at Award Ceremony)
Solano County
VYVA Inc.
Student Names: Mason Conner
Advisor Name: Lynn Larsen
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Second Place: “Brighter Days” (Recognized at Award Ceremony)
Los Angeles County
Pasadena City College
Student Names: Nataly Adame
Advisor Name: Jennifer Garson
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Third Place: “Hope Melody” (Recognized at Award Ceremony)
Riverside County
City of Indio Teen Center
Student Names: Edgar Ortiz, Andrew Martinez, Arely Zarco and JuQuan Roberts
Advisor Name: Laura Alvarez
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Fourth Place: “Please”
Riverside County
Mt. San Jacinto Community College
Student Names: Jennifer Penaflor, Emily Grisso, Jefferson Malanay
Advisor Name: Kevin O’Hara
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Fifth Place: “When Pain Runs Deep”
Los Angeles County
Cal State University Long Beach
Student Names: Chris Wilson, Daniel Hannaford, Connor Corgiat
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2016 Youth and Young Adult Winners – Mental Health Matters
*First Place: “Real Life Super Hero” (Recognized at Award Ceremony)
Del Norte County
Redwood Voice
Student Names: Jedidiah Hawkins and Makenzy Williams
Advisor Name: Jacob Patterson
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Second Place: “This is Claire” (Recognized at Award Ceremony)
Yolo County
Active Minds at UC Davis
Student Names: Marielle Pastor
Advisor Name: Eva Schepeler
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Third Place: “Phone Call” (Recognized at Award Ceremony)
Riverside County
Mount San Jacinto College
Student Names: Walter Popiela, Sixto Romero and Jessica Casillas
Advisor Name: Bing Bruce
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Fourth Place: “A Spark of Hope”
California Baptist University
Student Names: Rebecca Lam, Micah Emerine, Allison Montgomery and Adam Clark
Advisor Name: Melissa Croteau
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Fifth Place: “Breathe”
Los Angeles County
Pasadena City College
Student Names: Nataly Adame
Advisor Name: Jennifer Garson
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Honorable Mention: “I Am Here”
Riverside County
University of California Riverside
Student Names: Jillian Sarao and Irais Cardenas
Advisor Name: Kirin McCrory
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2016 Through the Lens of Culture Winners – Suicide Prevention
*First Place: “隠された思い (My Hidden Feelings)” (Recognized at Award Ceremony)
Orange County
Canyon High School
Student Names: Nicole McCready and Kana Okafuji
Advisor Name: Alex Graham
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Second Place: “Depression Has No Culture” (Recognized at Award Ceremony)
Fresno County
Clovis East High School
Student Names: Maegan Ankenman, Adryauna Speer, Caitlin Luster, Malia Willison
Advisor Name: Derrick Davis
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Third Place (tied): “Suicide on Indian Country” (Recognized at Award Ceremony)
Humboldt County
Humboldt County Transition Age Youth Collaboration
Student Names: Tristin Severns
Advisor Name: Leah Lamattina
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Third Place (tied): “My Friend Tyler” (Recognized at Award Ceremony)
Placer County
Whitney High School
Student Names: Matt Dazey and Noah Lopez-Koen
Advisor Name: Benjamin Barnholdt
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Fourth Place: “The Recovery”
Riverside County
Valley View High School
Student Names: Munder Arhara, Michael Blucher, Adonis Alvarez, Ryan Cerros
Advisor Name: Chris Lorenz
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Fifth Place: “Goodbye Letter”
Los Angeles County
NorthView High School
Student Names: Zulelalee Escobar, Nickolas Tienda, Justin Ramirez and Brittney Barcena
Advisor Name: Diane Atherton
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2016 Through the Lens of Culture Winners – Mental Health Matters
*First Place: “The Language of Healing” (Recognized at Award Ceremony)
San Francisco County
San Francisco State University
Student Names: Alejandra Vaca and Amanda Deda
Advisor Name: Vincent Lam
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Second Place: “Through Our Eyes” (Recognized at Award Ceremony)
San Bernardino County
Ruben S. Ayala High School
Student Names: Ashley Chuang, Nelly Hejazi, Melanie Pak, and Nikhil Vettikattu
Advisor Name: Kevin Russell
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Third Place: “Hear Me” (Recognized at Award Ceremony)
Sacramento County
Elk Grove High School
Student Names: Curtis Wong, Morgana Parsons, Cathrina Paclibar and Mauriana Raye
Advisor Name: Jennifer Moore
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Fourth Place: “Talking Taboo”
Butte County
Pleasant Valley High School
Student Names: Summer Soldano and Sami Laine
Advisor Name: Michael Peck
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Fifth Place: “Binary Blues”
Humboldt County
Humboldt County Transition Age Youth Collaboration
Student Names: Luna, Bloo, and Elijah Z
Advisor Name: Rochelle Trochtenberg
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Special Honorable Mention
“Rising Up”
Sacramento County
Franklin High School
Student Name: Brenda Vang
Advisor: Brad Clark
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Films For Diverse Communities
Suicide Prevention
“隠された思い (My Hidden Feelings)”
Orange County
Canyon High School
Student Names: Nicole McCready and Kana Okafuji
Advisor Name: Alex Graham
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Language: Japanese with English subtitles
A film that tells the story of a girl who experiences anxiety and hopelessness and finds support from a friend who reaches out to her.
“Depression Has No Culture”
Fresno County
Clovis East High School
Student Names: Maegan Ankenman, Adryauna Speer, Caitlin Luster, Malia Willison
Advisor Name: Derrick Davis
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Language: English and various languages with English subtitles
People from a variety of cultures discuss the importance of coming together to support one another to prevent suicide because depression has no culture.
“Suicide on Indian Country”
Humboldt County
Humboldt County Transition Age Youth Collaboration
Student Names: Tristin Severns
Advisor Name: Leah Lamattina
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Language: English with English captioning
Native youth discuss how their culture, language, family, and ceremony can heal and restore their people to help prevent suicide on Indian country.
“My Friend Tyler”
Placer County
Whitney High School
Student Names: Matt Dazey and Noah Lopez-Koen
Advisor Name: Benjamin Barnholdt
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Language: Spanish with English subtitles
A film that tells the story of a girl who notices signs of suicide in her friend Tyler and reaches out to support him and connect him with help.
“The Recovery”
Riverside County
Valley View High School
Student Names: Munder Arhara, Michael Blucher, Adonis Alvarez, Ryan Cerros
Advisor Name: Chris Lorenz
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Language: Arabic with English subtitles
A film about a high school student who experiences tough times and receives support and help from his family and friends.
“Goodbye Letter”
Los Angeles County
Northview High School
Student Names: Zulelalee Escobar, Nickolas Tienda, Justin Ramirez and Brittney Barcena
Advisor Name: Diane Atherton
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Language: American Sign Language with English captioning
A film about a deaf student having suicidal thoughts and a friend who reaches out and reminds him that help is available through friends, teachers and family.
“La Superacion de Problemas”
Los Angeles County
Northview High School
Student Name: Ricardo Lopez
Advisor: Diane Atherton
Language: Spanish with English subtitles
A film about a boy with suicidal thoughts and his hopeful journey to find help.
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“Alone”
Los Angeles County
Northview High School
Student Name: Amrie Soria, Jacqueline Perez and Gerardo Rosales
Advisor: Diane Atherton
Language: American Sign Language with English captioning
A story of a deaf high school student who experiences loneliness and thoughts of suicide and who is supported by a friend who reaches out and connects her to help.
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“Inside My Mind”
Riverside County
Valley View High School
Student Names: Adrianna Silva and Mya Quijada
Advisor: Chris Lorenz
Language: Spanish with English subtitles
A story of a girl who overcomes thoughts of suicide and shares a positive and hopeful message that others can too.
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Mental Health Matters
“The Language of Healing”
San Francisco County
San Francisco State University
Student Names: Alejandra Vaca and Amanda Deda
Advisor Name: Vincent Lam
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Language: English and various languages with English subtitles
First generation college students express some of the barriers they faced when accessing mental health services and encourage young people to seek support through the healing power of community.
“Through Our Eyes”
San Bernardino County
Ruben S. Ayala High School
Student Names: Ashley Chuang, Nelly Hejazi, Melanie Pak, and Nikhil Vettikattu
Advisor Name: Kevin Russell
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Language: English and various languages with English subtitles
High School students discuss in a variety of languages how mental illness transcends cultural boundaries and share the importance of starting a conversation about this topic.
“Hear Me”
Sacramento County
Elk Grove High School
Student Names: Curtis Wong, Morgana Parsons, Cathrina Paclibar and Mauriana Raye
Advisor Name: Jennifer Moore
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Language: American Sign Language with English captioning
A student who was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder shares her experience communicating through sign language with peers and teachers to break the silence of mental illness.
“Talking Taboo”
Butte County
Pleasant Valley High School
Student Names: Summer Soldano and Sami Laine
Advisor Name: Michael Peck
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Language: English with English subtitles
An exchange student from Ecuador discusses her experience joining the Each Mind Matters mental health movement and her passion for sharing the movement with others.
“Binary Blues”
Humboldt County
Humboldt County Transition Age Youth Collaboration
Student Names: Luna, Bloo, and Elijah Z
Advisor Name: Rochelle Trochtenberg
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Language: English with English closed captioning
A film about the beauty of diversity and how transgender and non-conforming youth can look to their community for support.
“Eclipse Industries Suicide PSA”
Alameda County
Alameda High School
Student Names: Stephanie dos Remedios, Laila Zeppard, Zhana Prince, Vy Huynh, Maria Pasqualino, Bruno Santos, Carly Doumitt
Advisor: John Dalton
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Language: English and various languages with English subtitles
High school students discuss in a variety of languages how depression can affect anyone regardless of age, geographic location, demographic, or social position and that there is always help.
“Helping Hand”
Butte County
Pleasant Valley High School
Student Names: Brad Ricketts and Calvin Freer
Advisor: Michael Peck
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Language: English with English closed captioning
High school students discuss how sports team culture involves always having each others’ back and how the same can be applied to supporting people experiencing depression.
“Yurok, Healing Through Tradition”
Del Norte County
Redwood Voice
Student Name: Jacob Patterson
Advisor: Makenzy Williams
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Language: English
A story of how important it is for indigenous tribes to heal from suicide deaths in their community and how Yurok culture can heal through learning from elders, protecting sacred lands, and honoring culture through dance, song, and prayer.
“Just Talk”
Butte County
Pleasant Valley High School
Student Name: Clayton Bucholz
Advisor: Michael Peck
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Language: English with English captioning
A film which highlights the importance of reaching out to friends who may be experiencing a mental health challenge in a world where technology can sometimes create a barrier to communicating.
“Confidently Anxious”
Riverside County
Desert Mirage High School
Student Names: Andred Chavez and Miguel Lopez
Advisor: Mr. Ellingson
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Language: English with English captioning
A film that explores the experience of anxiety and stress through the lens of a boy from a Latino background.
