List
Suicide Prevention
In collaboration with the Douglas Center and MCC, here are some titles that can help provide perspective and solidarity in times of need.
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How I Stayed Alive when My Brain Was Trying to Kill Me
2002 by Blauner, Susan RoseGet this itemPublisher Weekly raves, "With neither hollow platitudes nor medical doublespeak, she covers brain function, antidepressants, finding a good therapist, identifying triggers, creating a "Crisis Plan" for critical moments and heading off suicidal thoughts by coping with hunger, anger, loneliness and fatigue. Blauner provides an extremely valuable and much-needed tool for both suicidal thinkers and their loved ones." Suggested by Rummanah.
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This Song Will Save Your Life
2013 by Sales, LeilaGet this itemElise Dembowski, a high school sophomore facing bullying and isolation, struggles to fit in until she finds a new group of friends at an underground dance party. This journey to self-acceptance after a long battle with depression and suicidal thoughts features realistically flawed characters and a hopeful outlook on finding a sense of belonging in adolescence. Young adult. Suggested by Elise.
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Luna's Red Hat: An Illustrated Storybook to Help Children Cope with Loss and Suicide
2015 by Smid, EmmiGet this itemIt's been a year since Luna's mom died by suicide, and the family is having a picnic in the park to commemorate the anniversary. Luna still has a complicated mix of feelings, including confusion, anger, sadness, anxiety, and guilt. It's a heavy topic, handled openly and sensitively in an age-appropriate way. Includes a guide for parents and caregivers. For ages 5-10. Suggested by Shelley.
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This Close to Okay: A Novel
2021 by Cross-Smith, LeesaGet this itemTold in alternating perspectives, this character-centered novel tells the story of two people who are brought together by chance at just the right moment and help each other to heal. Suggested by Becca.
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The Phone Call
2017Get this itemSally Hawkins stars as a volunteer for a crisis center who takes a call from a mysterious man (voiced by Jim Broadbent) in this Oscar-winning live-action short. It’s a powerful film that explores loneliness, grief, empathy, and hope. Suggested by Sharon.
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The Listeners
2021Get this itemThis informative documentary follows a group of new volunteers as they go through an intensive training program to answer suicide hotlines. The significance of their work certainly hits home. Suggested by Amber and Sharon.
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The Summer of Diving
2022 by Stridsberg, SaraGet this itemTold from a young girl's perspective, this story of her clinically depressed father is heartwarming yet realistic. When her father is moved to a psychiatric hospital and doesn't want to see her or her mother, she spends time with a woman who is also hospitalized, and they become friends. For ages 5-10. Suggested by Shelley.
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Here One Day
2014Get this itemAn emotional, candid documentary from filmmaker Kathy Leichter, focusing on her mother Nina’s life and her mother's decision to end her life. It shows grief and love and a family supporting one another. Suggested by Sharon.
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Rising above Shepherdsville
2019 by Schoenbohm, AnnGet this itemIt's 1977 and a 12-year-old girl moves in with her aunt in a small town in Ohio. She's won a spelling bee, but lost her voice after her mother's suicide. She meets some special people (plus a dog and a family of swans) who help her work through her grief and find her voice again. For ages 9-12. Suggested by Shelley.
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The Suicide Epidemic
2020 by Steffens, BradleyGet this itemDiscusses trends, social media's impact, high-risk populations like transgender youth, and prevention strategies. For ages 8-12. Suggested by Shelley.
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