LA Lakers’ forward, Metta World Peace, formerly known as Ron Artest,leads the roster of judges for the statewide high school student video contest called Directing Change.
The contest is part of statewide efforts to prevent suicide, reduce stigma and discrimination related to mental illness, and to promote the mental health and wellness of students.
High school students throughout California are invited to “Direct Change†by submitting 60-second public service announcements in two categories: suicide prevention and eliminating stigma about mental illness. The deadline for submissions is March 1, 2013.
Also judging the videos are Top Chef (and restaurateur) Brian Malarkey whose San Diego county eateries include Searsucker, Burlap, and Herring and who will also serve as a judge on ‘The Taste’.
Mr. World Peace has been a mental health advocate for many years, and was even awarded the 2010–11 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award for “outstanding service and dedication to the community†and for raising awareness and funds for mental health issues by the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
For contest rules and information: www.directingchange.org
The Directing Change PSA contest is funded by counties through the voter-approved Mental Health Services Act (Prop. 63). It is one of several Prevention and Early Intervention Initiatives implemented by the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA). For more information: www.calmhsa.org
