Surviving Suicidal Ideation:
From the Edge of Life
A Six-Episode Documentary Series
LET US KNOW IF YOU NEED A PRODUCTION DECK.
CDC Current Suicide Statistics - This does not include how many people have suicidal ideation
In 2021 - 1 out of every 58 Americans died by suicide
Disclaimer: Triggering Content if this moves you in a way that triggers you please stop. If you need guidance call 988 or 911 anytime!
“If we can’t start talking about it now seriously, how can we expect other to heal it in themselves?”
Episode 1: Foundation & General Stats
Beyond the well-publicized impact of COVID across the globe, there is a lesser-known pandemic affecting millions, maybe billions, worldwide: suicide and suicidality.
Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide in young people ages 15-29. As we provide details on the problem, we aim to bring it out of the shadows so we can get hope, guidance, tools, and community support to lead others away from this preventable affliction.
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the US. The rate in 2022 was the highest since 1941 — the end of the Great Depression.
2021 - 48,183 people died by suicide in the US - that is one death every 11 minutes or 132 a day.
12.3m adults seriously considered suicide (probably more as many do not provide data)
3.5m adults made a plan (probably more as many do not provide data) 1.7m attempted (probably more as many do not provide data).
Episode 2: Celebrities and High Profiled Therapists, and Experts
This documentary begins by exploring the history of suicide globally on a timeline. This will be told in a tone for educational purposes and with the air that, as we intellectualize challenging issues, we can collectively resolve them.
Fact: One thing being made clear is that as we have garnered new technologies and modern conveniences, we collectively have become more critical, judgmental, and negative which is continuing to grow. People feel more disconnected than ever, fearful, depressed, lonely, and a loss of self-love and self- purpose.
Episode 3: History of Suicide by Country
Ajax the Great, Killed himself at the Trojan War 12th century BC
Suicide in our history from around the world has been curated in myth and story, as well as some well-documented events. Our preliminary research indicates that suicide, for the most part, was from fear of persecution, enslaved people, military, or prisoners, and where they might not survive specific life experiences.
When did our generation‘s “unbearable“ become loneliness (loss of tribe), debt, social pressures, loss of self, addictions, numbness, bullying, political divide, and psychological abuse? We have more finances and medications going towards mental health than in the history of the world, but we are worse. Why?
Episode 4 - The Happiest and least suicidal places in the world and why, the legality of suicide
Episode 5: Interview mass shooters and their families. Were these individuals suicidal before they were homicidal? We think, Yes.
There is one burning question on our minds that nobody has yet to discuss. For the last two years in America, we have averaged two mass shootings a day - that is 730 a year. Mass shootings are categorized by four people or more being affected by a violent act.
Suicide by a cop is growing. We assume that these shooters are prepared to die that day, so they are suicidal. How long have they been suicidal, and when did they turn homicidal? We want to interview those in prison and their families. We have qualified trauma therapists who will break down their answers. We believe we can develop mental health programs and warning systems with more intellect.
Episode 6: Programs, 988, a Government Programs
Vibrant Emotional Health is the Administrator of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and received grants of around 80 million to perform but has not received the best results. In 2022, Biden allotted another 180m to fund suicide prevention programs. SAMHSA announced a supplemental $825 million in March. HHS announced $1.5 billion in the American Rescue Plan.
There is a lot of money, but have you heard of many of these programs? Some big salaries are getting paid, and few Americans are getting help. Whatever the reason, we need to look at it and ensure accountability. We are not sure where this part of the story will land us and feel there might be some unearthed exciting commentary that will unfold.
Some on social media say don’t call 988. People have said that many do not get responses back (including our EP, Cavalier), and the volunteers are exhausted, are under paid, quit regularly, and are not trained correctly on how to help those who are suicidal.
A 2023 study that questioned 5,000 users who used the 988 hotline in a survey found that only a quarter of users would likely use the service again if they were in crisis
Our Team
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Gina Cavalier
Executive Producer
Cavalier is a media entertainment executive for 25 years in film/tv, at Warner Bros, Disney, and Soundelux where she worked on over 300 titles with worldwide distribution. Cavalier found healing for her suicidal ideation and is now an advocate for mental health and passionate about sharing what she has learned. Gina Cavalier founded The Liberated Healer a brand producing content in all areas of healing via podcasts, books, non-profit programs, and mobile and online applications all centered around building community and healing. Her co-authored book, “Surviving Suicidal Ideation: From Therapy, to Spirituality, and the Lived Experience” is up for pre-sale on Amazon and being published by The Swedenborg Foundation.
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Maxim Balter
Director/Producer
Balter is an International award-winning director and producer. Currently based in LA and is originally from Ukraine where he has stayed since the war broke out. In 2009 he pushed his way into commercials, music videos, and short films where we captured audience attention for his unique visual storytelling prowess and received over 35 worldwide indie film festival awards. Max’s short film “Together” was proudly selected for the Cannes, Venice, and Prague film festivals. He is passionate about telling stories through visuals that propel our hearts into another way of understanding the world around us.
Max's Reel
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Wylie Stateman
Sound Supervisor/Producer
Stateman’s sound career began in 1979 in a feature film titled, Coal Miner’s Daughter and from there co-founded Soundelux, the audio post-production facility that launched a thousand careers and award-winning film/TV/games. Stateman never strayed from heading sound projects with over 160 projects under his belt. He is one of the most sought after supervisors in the world. He has partnered with talent like Quentin Tarantino, Oliver Stone, Sam Levinson, Scott Frank, Wolfgang Peterson, and John Hughes. He has been nominated for 9 Academy Awards (i.e., Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Deepwater Horizon, Lone Survivor, Django Unchained, Inglourios Basterds, Wanted, Memoirs of a Geisha, Cliffhanger, Born on the Fourth of July and, The Lone Survivor, 6 BAFTA nominations and winner of Best Sound for JFK, 3 Emmy Nominations and an award for Queen’s Gambit, and 25 MPSE nominations and awards.)
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Producer
Gabriela is an award-winning Writer/Director with 9 feature films and several TV series. Her recent work on Netflix, “Christmas With You,” launched at #1 in 26 countries; she recently finished “Tequila Reposado” for Sony and Amazon Films. For a full list, click below.
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Peter Kaufman
Legal/Attorney
Peter Kaufman is a seasoned legal professional and partner at Kaufman Abdel-Aal LLP. With a career spanning over three decades, he has amassed extensive experience in entertainment financing, film, television, and new media production and distribution. Additional expertise in corporate finance, copyright, licensing, and representation of talent and executives. He is a Boston University School of Law and Emory University alumnus.
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Dan McNamara
Sound Designer/Editor
Daniel comes from Vorhees, New Jersey, and currently lives in Los Angeles. He was driven by his love of sound and music where he plays the guitar, drums, piano, and trumpet. At the age of 19, he signed a record deal with Next Generation Music and worked alongside music producer and former president of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Recording Academy, David Ivory. He received an Associate of Science Degree in Recording Arts, as well as his Bachelor of Science Degree in Audio Production. Graduating top of his class in highest honors, Summa Cum Laude for both degrees from the Los Angeles Recording School. McNamara loves working on his sounds and music, achieving his goals in life, and focusing on audio post-production. He values unique sounds and records and designs his own material and is a member of IATSE Local 700. Currently, he is on the Sony Pictures lot working on a variety of titles mostly in animation.
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Dr. Amelia Kelley
Phd. Mental Health Consulting/Researcher
Dr. Amelia Kelley is a trauma-informed therapist who has conducted research on the effects of exercise on adult ADHD symptoms as well as the effects of resiliency on PTSD. She is a trained Hypno-therapist, Art therapist, HSP Therapist, EMDR-informed therapist, meditation teacher, as well as a Certified Yoga instructor integrating therapeutic yoga and psychotherapy. She is a trainer, podcaster and writer in the “science-help” field focusing on; women's issues, empowering survivors of abuse and relationship trauma, Highly Sensitive Persons, motivation, healthy living, and adult ADHD.
Dr. Kelley is an adjunct professor at Yorkville University in the Masters of Counseling program. She is as a nationally recognized relationship expert featured on XM Radio’s Doctor Channel on The Psychiatry Show, as well as a coach and trainer for SAS’s Work/Life Program in Cary, NC and a resident trainer for the NC Art Therapy Institute. Her private practice is currently part of the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium at the Kinsey Institute. She is a co-author of What I Wish I Knew: Surviving and Thriving after an abusive relationship, Surviving Suicidal Ideation, Gaslighting a Recovery for Women, and a contributing author for the Highly Sensitive Refuge. -
Composer/Tokyo Aquarium (Father)
Mark Fontana is a composer for film and television and bassist/singer for the L.A. based band The Blue Hawaiians. He has provided music for a number of reality television shows (Homicide Hunter, Chasing Mummies) and several cartoons (Spongebob Squarepants, with his band, and Squirrel Boy, which he was nominated for an Annie Award for best music in a cartoon series). Last year (2016) Mark released the all instrumental rock/surf/exotica Christmas record “Christmas Eve”, which the L.A. times gave a 3 star rating and called it “sheer fun”. He is currently co-producing records for a couple of young artists. While not working on music projects Mark can be found surfing a secret spot in Malibu, Ca..
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Composer/Tokyo Aquarium (Son)
Tokyo Aquarium is a father/son composing team. Malcolm and Mark write unique sounds that transcend the viewer. Malcolm is also a Director and editor.
I entered my working life as a lone wolf on indie productions, as well as my own projects, and the quality which continues to emerge from my working life is collaboration. I am always looking forward with curiosity and openness to teams of creatives to work with—and where we can capture a moment worth watching.