A Community Collaborations Event
Presented in partnership National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) Johnson County
"To see this issue from the eyes of someone who has lived through it, especially a teenager, is so powerful. A difficult message we must all hear."—Leslie Hadley
On June 7, 2017 Emma Benoit decided her life wasn't worth living anymore. It was the summer before her senior year of high school, and on the outside her life looked perfect. She was a stunning varsity cheerleader with a supportive family and lots of friends, but on the inside she was filled with darkness, depression and anxiety, and had never told a soul about it. A series of miracles saved her life, but a self-inflicted gunshot wound resulted in a spinal cord injury that left her paralyzed. The incident propelled her on a mission to use her experience and ongoing recovery to help others find hope, while shining light on the suicide epidemic that is taking the lives of 20 young people a day in the United States. In addition to Emma's inspiring story, the film also shares the stories of two remarkable young people who didn't survive their attempts; and we learn first hand from their families, friends, school officials and suicide prevention experts about the devastating impact suicides have on those who are left behind.
