The growing number of suicides in Sonoma County make open conversations about this difficult topic more important than ever.
Each year, death by suicide claims the lives of approximately 69 Sonoma County residents, almost three times the number of deaths due to motor vehicle crashes, according to the 2017 Sonoma County Violence Profile.
Kathryn Hecht, executive director of the Alexander Valley Film Society, said with the latest alarming statistics showing an increase in suicide rates in the county, open conversations about the difficult topic are more important than ever.
The AVFS in partnership with the Healthcare Foundation of Northern Sonoma County will present “The S Word” on Monday, March 19 at 6 p.m. at the Clover Theater, 121 East 1st St., Cloverdale.
The film follows a suicide-attempt survivor on a mission to find fellow survivors and document their stories of courage, insight and humor. Along the way, she discovers a rising national movement transforming personal struggles into action.
“The timing of the screening is critical,” Hecht said.
A panel discussion facilitated by Healthcare Foundation CEO Debbie Mason will take place after the film, from 7:45 to 8:45 p.m. The panel will include the film’s director, Lisa Klein, and local producer, Gianna Smart, along with healthcare professionals from around the county.
Tickets are $15 and include wine from Laura Carpenter of Carpenter Wine.
A special screening of “The S Word” will be shown to students and faculty at Cloverdale High School earlier in the day. Counselors will be on hand to assist Klein during a post-film director’s discussion.
Hecht said this would be the first time taking a film into the school, but it felt like a natural fit given the film’s subject.
“Because of the sensitive content of the movie and in light of ‘13 Reasons Why,’ there are legitimate concerns regarding the content of the series,” she said. “We thought it made sense to share this with high schoolers.”
A backlash occurred following the release of “13 Reasons Why,” a Netflix series centered around a teenager who commits suicide. Critics spoke out against the series because of graphic content and the potential sensationalism of suicide.
According to 2017 violence profile reports, suicide is the second leading cause of death among Sonoma County youth ages 10 to 24. However, adults ages 45 to 64 and 65 and older had significantly higher suicide rates than younger Sonoma County residents.
To gain a better understanding about the prevalence of the issue, it is important to remember that for every person in Sonoma County who dies by suicide, about 10 others attempt suicide. Additionally, more than one in 10 adults in Sonoma County report that they have seriously thought about committing suicide, according to violence profile reports.
“The S Word” film presentation is part of the AVFS’ monthly screening series. Hecht said the series aims to educate and inform by challenging and reflecting on the diversity in the community and outside the community.
For more information on the AVFS, visit their website at avfilmsociety.org. For those in mental health crisis, help is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling Sonoma County’s 24-hour Emergency Mental Health Hotline: 800-746-8181.
To find out more about how to access mental health resources in Sonoma County, visit sonomacounty.ca.gov/Public-Safety/Hotlines-and-Emergencies/.
