BETHLEHEM, Pa. — “You start thinking immediately, ‘Where did I go wrong?’ Cheerleader, great grades in school, popular. Not Emma.”
Those are the words of the father of Emma Benoit, who was just 16 and heading into her senior year of high school when she survived a suicide attempt in 2017. She woke up in a hospital bed, paralyzed from her injuries and had to relearn how to walk.
- Northampton County's Suicide Prevention Task Force and Bangor Area School District will screen "My Ascension" on Wednesday at Bangor High School
- The documentary tells the story of Emma Benoit, who survived a suicide attempt at the age of 16
- Benoit now shares her experience to help others and is on a mission of spreading hope and fighting suicide
Now, the Northampton County Suicide Prevention Task Force and Bangor Area School District will come together to screen a documentary about Benoit, “My Ascension.” It tells the story of her survival and “how it propelled her on a mission to use her experience to help others find hope and stay alive.”
The free event will take place Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 6 p.m. at Bangor High School.
In an extended trailer for the film, Benoit says she struggled with anxiety and depression, and putting her story out there is worth it if it saves even one person.
“If it even helps one person to just stand up and be like, ‘I have those feelings, I have those thoughts,’ and not to be ashamed of it, then it’s worth it,” she says.
The film also tells the stories of two other teens who, tragically, did not survive their attempts and shows the devastating effects suicide can have on those left behind.
“We’re drowning out here. We need a lifeguard to send out a raft and pull us ashore,” says a teen in a clip from the documentary.
“This is not a school issue, this is a community issue,” says a man also featured.
Testimonials at https://www.myascension.us/ call the film, “profound, poignant and hopeful.”
"This is not a school issue, this is a community issue"Speaker in "My Ascension"
Community mental health providers will conduct a resource fair before and after the movie at Bangor High School, supplying information and support.
The event is free and the community is welcome to attend. However, due to the subject matter, it is recommended that children under the age of 10 do not participate unless their parents have seen the film previously and are okay with their child viewing the content.
“Northampton County’s most precious resource is our residents, especially our younger generation,” said Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure, in a news release. “The Suicide Prevention Task Force continues to work to make sure everyone has the resources they need to get through the dark times.”
Director of Student Services for the Bangor Area School District, Joe Kondisko added, “The partnership with the Northampton County Suicide Prevention Task Force is a great asset to the Bangor Area School District, helping to deliver this event to support mental health in our school community.”
According to the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention, suicide is the 12th leading cause of death in the U.S., and more than 20 young people die by suicide every day across the country. On average, there are 130 suicides per day across all age groups.
Anyone struggling with thoughts of suicide can call the Northampton County crisis line at 610-252-9060.
By dialing 988, you can also reach the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline available 24 hours a day. The Crisis Text Line also provides free, 24/7, confidential support to people in crisis when they text HELLO to 741741.
