The Choice of a Lifetime: Returning From the Brink of Suicide

Transforming Suicidal Despair Into The Will To Live • Digitally Remastered 4K Version • 2026
by
Year Released
1996
Film Length(s)
53 mins
Closed captioning available
Remote video URL

Introduction

Six people, ages 21 to 73, share their stories of overcoming suicidal despair.

Featured review

This excellent documentary provides valuable insight into the will to live. Recommended for university courses, counseling personnel, community groups, and general audiences from high school and up.
Mary M. Nofsinger
Library Journal

Synopsis

This inspiring documentary tells the stories of six people, aged 21 to 73, who returned from the brink of suicide and transformed their despair into a journey of healing. We meet a retired white doctor who longed to join his beloved wife after she died of cancer; a Black woman who turned to drugs and alcohol after being raped as a teenager; a white sales professional addicted to risky behavior; a Chicano man drawn to the "collective suicide" of gang violence; a 21-year-old white woman who was afraid to come out to her family as gay; and a Native American man whose family shunned him after he told them he had been a victim of incest. In candid and intimate interviews, each explains what led them to the brink of suicide, what stopped them, and the different healing methods they found including support groups, therapy, creative writing, spirituality, and artistic expression.

Reviews

This helpful, moving, and important documentary is strongly recommended to anyone concerned with this urgent national problem.
S. Rees
Video Librarian
How these individuals have found meaning in life through support groups, therapy, religion, and art offers hope to others struggling with depression. An inspiring look at lives brought back from the brink.
Jeff Dick
Booklist
Deeply moving. Excellent production values. Recommended for general academic collections and recommended strongly for health sciences collections.
Kelly Hensley
MC Journal, The Journal of Academic Media Librarianship
Riveting. This is first class documentary filmmaking that serves as an excellent teaching tool for any level of student in psychology and the human services. It is powerful, poignant, technically excellent and brings questions about meaning, healing, and helping into clear focus.
Tobin Hart
The Humanistic Psychologist
Powerfully portrays the stories of three men and three women and provides insight into the acute pain experienced by them. One of the strengths of the film is the diversity of the participants. This provides an understanding of the complexity of suicide risk and generates an excellent class discussion.
Estelle Hopmeyer
Teaching Death and Dying

Awards and Screenings

PBS Broadcast
Silver Award, National Educational Media Network
Outstanding Documentary Award, Western Psychological Association
Elda Hartley Film Award, Institute of Noetic Sciences
American Association of Suicidology Conference
American Sociological Association Annual Meeting
National Council of Social Studies Conference
Suicide: Prevention and Early Intervention Conference
Spirit in Healing Conference

Features and Languages

Film Features

  • Closed Captioning

Subtitle/Caption Languages

  • English

Promotional Material

Promotional Stills

Opens in new window