Karamo Brown Receives Directing Change Mental Health Advocacy Award

The Directing Change Program & Film Contest, a statewide mental health promotion and suicide prevention program for youth, announces Karamo Brown as recipient of its 2022 Award of Excellence for Mental Health Advocacy.

Brown is a three-time Emmy winner and culture expert on the Netflix reboot of Queer Eye, supporting guests with empathy and care on the show to improve their self-esteem, relationships, and mental health. The Directing Change program is part of statewide mental health efforts encouraging Californians to take action for their mental health.

“Because of everything he does to make the world a more understanding and positive place, we are thrilled to partner with Karamo to increase awareness of the Take Action for Mental Health campaign. Karamo is the embodiment of what California’s ongoing mental health movement is about – checking in with ourselves and others, learning every day, and knowing when to get support,” said Jeremy Wilson, Program Director, California Mental Health Services Authority.

“We are inspired with the way Karamo has used his platform to speak openly about his experiences – many of which are the heart of Directing Change’s mission,” said Jana Sczersputowski, Directing Change’s Executive Director and Co-Founder. “We want to encourage young people to aspire to be courageous and genuine, using their talents as musicians, actors, writers, and filmmakers to entertain, but to also use their talents to normalize conversations about mental health and suicide prevention.”

Award winning TV personality, author, and mental health influencer Karamo Brown will accept the 2022 Award at the tenth annual award ceremony broadcast on Facebook Live May 17 at 7 p.m. PDT. Directing Change’s award ceremony will announce and recognize youth winners from across California for their films in the Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Matters categories. The first, second, and third place winners in each category will be announced and screened at the virtual event. The organization will also be recognizing Netflix’s show ‘Never Have I Ever’ as an additional recipient of the 2022 Award for a TV Show with Outstanding Messaging around Mental Health. Writer, Producer, and Director Lang Fisher, from ‘Never Have I Ever’ will be accepting the award.

Directing Change Eighth Annual Award Ceremony: May 17, 7 p.m. on Facebook Live

• RSVP for the Facebook Live event here or simply tune in on May 17, at 7 p.m. PDT https://www.facebook.com/Direc...
• Screen the Finalists’ Films & Vote for Your Favorite: https://directingchangeca.org/2022-awards/

Across California, The Directing Change program received 939 films created by 2,434 youth from 135 schools and community-based organizations. As part of statewide mental health and suicide prevention efforts The Directing Change Program & Film Contest engages students and young people throughout the state to learn about suicide prevention and mental health by creating short films that support awareness, education, and advocacy efforts.

The program has recently captured the attention of researchers at New York University.

“This is a uniquely youth-directed program, in which films are made by youth, for youth. By involving a single student and their advisor, or a single classroom or after-school club, Directing Change has the potential to reduce stigma, open the conversation about suicide, foster youth leadership, and be a catalyst for community-wide change,” said Pamela A. Morris, Ph.D of the NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development.