New Documentary Takes a Deep dive into the Current Teen Suicide Epidemic

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TELL MY STORY
A Father’s Journey to Understand Teen Suicide

The New documentary “Tell My Story” spotlights a grieving father, Jason Reid, seeks answers after his 14-year-old son Ryan dies by suicide. He uncovers painful truths about the lives of teens, the impact of unfettered access to internet and social media, and the shocking rise of depression among America’s youth, especially now due to the pandemic. 


The journey brings him together with young suicide survivors, prevention experts, and parents trying to understand the 70% increase in adolescent suicide. Closer to home, with his family fractured, he examines his son’s technology use to discover what no parent wants to find. Seeking to find the warning signs that were missed, he instead finds ways to reverse the isolation and disconnectedness that is killing our youth, helping them to lead happy, successful lives.


The suicide rate (per 100,000) for youth aged 15-24 has increased significantly, from 10.54 in 2010 to 13.95 in 2019. (CDC, 2019). Nationally, suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for ages 10-34 (CDC, 2019). 


Jason Reid is a partner at CEO International, where he coaches CEOs on how to be successful. He co-founded National Services Group, which employs 2500 people across three brands nationwide. He is a leader, entrepreneur, and family man. Following the suicide of his 14-year-old son in 2019, Jason started the foundation Chooselife.org. The goal is to end teen suicide by 2030. Jason speaks to audiences around the country about his own experience and how parents can converse with their children about mental health.


The film also features best selling author of nine books, psychiatrist, and suicide prevention expert interventionist Mark Goulston, M.D. as well as prevention experts from Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services in Los Angeles, SafeTalk, Project 99 and Faces Of Fortitude.


Jason Reid’s TedTalks and Goal Cast videos about strengthening the mental health of teens and young adults have been viewed by almost 5 million people:

Check out the Reid family story and Jason’s goals to reach parents and urge them to have the difficult conversation with their children.


“After spending the last 2 1/2 years in this space and the last year and a bit on this film, I have come to realize that the biggest impact on teen wellbeing is really us as parents. It is up to us to own the mental health of our kids. We need to look for the signs and have the conversations that I did not have with Ryan. I am determined to reach every parent and every family about the conversation they need to have with their kids. To reach parents across America and to ignite a movement, I teamed up with Philippe Diaz, Founder and CEO of Cinema Libre Studio, to make “Tell My Story,” a feature length documentary that will radically shift the conversation in our culture about youth mental health and suicide prevention.”

Tell My Story premiered at the prestigious Santa Barbara International Film Festival in January 2020 as the pandemic curtailed future festival exposure. In June it was featured in the virtual Socially Relevant Film Festival. The film will also stream for free for 90 days on WellBeings.org, a multi-platform multi-year campaign to address the critical health needs in America. 

Be sure to check out the powerful film here.

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