Surviving: What we know about Suicide
Around 800,000 people worldwide reportedly die by suicide every year. But, the number of unreported cases makes that number much higher. Thus, suicide is one of the leading causes of death globally. This documentary looks for answers as to why people commit suicide and how it can be prevented.
Over the years scientists have approached an understanding of suicide from different angles. Dr. Thomas Joiner uses a model to try to explain how the combination of social and psychological conditions can lead to suicidal behavior. Dr. John Mann looks for indicators of increased risk in the changes of the brains of people who have died by suicide.
After suffering a head injury, 17-year-old Greg Whitesell developed depression and suicidal ideation. Suicide is often preceded by mental illness. But the social stigma makes it difficult for those affected – and their relatives – to get help in time. Patricia Gerstendörfer runs a self-help group for people who have lost someone to suicide. For them, coming to terms with their loss is a lifelong task.
Denmark has shown how suicide prevention can succeed at a national level. Policies have been implemented to expand psychiatric care and limit access to suicide methods. In schools, the mental health of the students is promoted. In the workforce, ambassadors speak publicly about mental illness.
This film gives a voice to people who have overcome suicidal crises. It documents new and proven methods of dealing with suicidal tendencies, raises awareness of stigmatization and highlights prevention as a task for society as a whole.
Written & Directed by: JAMES BARRAT
Edited by SALVATORE VECCHIO Director of Photography JIM BALL Composer ANTON SANKO Coordinating Producer WILLIAM MORGAN Associate Producer CORIN WILSON Field Producer Montana LEYA HALE Location Fixer Denmark CHRISTOPHE JOHANSEN Visual Effects and Graphics TRAILHEAD PICTURES Production Assistants DAVID BIGGS, DARSHAN BOLEN, CHANDA HESTWOOD, JOSH KENKEL, YANXIN PIAO Research LIA KVATUM, DEIRDRE DOHERTY, PHILIP CLOUTIER
Advisors ERIC D. CAINE, M.D., JILL HARKAVY-FRIEDMAN, PH.D, DANIEL REIDENBERG, PH.D
Outreach Partners AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION, NATIONAL ACTION ALLIANCE FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION, SUICIDE AWARENESS VOICES OF EDUCATION
Online Editor/Post Supervisor BRIAN MILLARD Assistant Editor/Additional Graphics BONNIE BREUNER Post Production Coordinator MARISA KRONENBERG Audio Mix/Sound Design HENNINGER MEDIA SERVICES
ARTE-Fassung
Buch & Regie MAREIKE MÜLLER
Kamera KNUT SCHMITZ, SVEN KLÖPPER
Montage GABRIELE BIASIZZO
Ton JULE BUERJES, SVEN KLÖPPER
Produzentin DOCDAYS ANTJE BOEHMERT Produktion ZDF KATHARINA KROHMANN Redaktionelle Mitarbeit ZDF MORITZ HOPPE Redaktion MARITA HÜBINGER
Archiv
FILMSUPPLY, GETTY IMAGES, iSTOCK, MAZATLAN VIDEO LLC, NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION, POND5, RISE UP MONTANA, SELIS-QLISPE CULTURE COMMITTEE, SHUTTERSTOCK, UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM, GIFT OF HADASSAH ROSENSAFT, THE WPA FILM LIBRARY
Senior Managing Director Twin Cities FRITZ BERGMANN Line Producer Twin Cities ERIN ANZALONE Executive Producer Twin Cities MICHAEL ROSENFELD
Produced for Twin Cities PBS & PBS by Barrat Media in association with arte © 2022
ARTE-Fassung
Eine Produktion von DOCDAYS im Auftrag des ZDF in Zusammenarbeit mit ARTE
© ZDF 2022
A film by James Barrat
ARTE Version:
Written & Directed by: Mareike Müller
Camera: Knut Schmitz
Editor: Gabriele Biasizzo
Sound: Jule Buerjes, Sven Klöpper
Line Producer: Ko Miklik
Line Producer ZDF: Katharina Krohmann
Commissioning Editor: Marita Hübinger
Executive Producer: Antje Boehmert
DOCDAYS in coproduction with ZDF in association with ARTE.
Produced for Twin Cities PBS & PBS by Barrat Media in association with arte
Length: 52 min
Year of Production: 2022
Around 800,000 people worldwide reportedly die by suicide every year. But, the number of unreported cases makes that number much higher. Thus, suicide is one of the leading causes of death globally. This documentary looks for answers as to why people commit suicide and how it can be prevented.
Over the years scientists have approached an understanding of suicide from different angles. Dr. Thomas Joiner uses a model to try to explain how the combination of social and psychological conditions can lead to suicidal behavior. Dr. John Mann looks for indicators of increased risk in the changes of the brains of people who have died by suicide.
After suffering a head injury, 17-year-old Greg Whitesell developed depression and suicidal ideation. Suicide is often preceded by mental illness. But the social stigma makes it difficult for those affected – and their relatives – to get help in time. Patricia Gerstendörfer runs a self-help group for people who have lost someone to suicide. For them, coming to terms with their loss is a lifelong task.
Denmark has shown how suicide prevention can succeed at a national level. Policies have been implemented to expand psychiatric care and limit access to suicide methods. In schools, the mental health of the students is promoted. In the workforce, ambassadors speak publicly about mental illness.
This film gives a voice to people who have overcome suicidal crises. It documents new and proven methods of dealing with suicidal tendencies, raises awareness of stigmatization and highlights prevention as a task for society as a whole.
A film by James Barrat
ARTE Version:
Written & Directed by: Mareike Müller
Camera: Knut Schmitz
Editor: Gabriele Biasizzo
Sound: Jule Buerjes, Sven Klöpper
Line Producer: Ko Miklik
Line Producer ZDF: Katharina Krohmann
Commissioning Editor: Marita Hübinger
Executive Producer: Antje Boehmert
DOCDAYS in coproduction with ZDF in association with ARTE.
Produced for Twin Cities PBS & PBS by Barrat Media in association with arte
Length: 52 min
Year of Production: 2022