QC-Produced Documentary Examines Teen Suicide And Depression

IA/IL QUAD-CITIES – The statistics are grim. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for teenagers, ages 12 to 18, according to HealthResearchFunding.org. Every day in the United States, an estimated 5,400 young people attempt suicide.

“The issue of teen depression and suicide is a community crisis that needs to be addressed, and we wanted to initiate the conversation in the Quad-Cities,” said Mike Mickle, President of Mickle Communications, a marketing and video production company and publisher of QC Family Focus. To help inform the community about this issue, the Mickle Communications team is now producing a documentary entitled If You Only Knew: The Journey through Teen Depression and Suicide. 

“The mission of our magazine, QC Family Focus, is to promote healthy, happy families. We will be covering these vital topics in our magazine as well as in the documentary,” Mickle said. “Our Quad-Cities communities need to learn about and address these issues before more young lives are lost.”

If You Only Knew: The Journey through Teen Depression and Suicide will be broadcast on WQPT at 8 p.m., March 31. WQPT is devoting a full night on March 31 to this important topic, starting with The Cities with Jim Mertens at 7 p.m. and The Whitney Reynolds Show at 7:30 p.m. The Mickle Communications documentary begins at 8 p.m., and at 9 p.m., a 30-minute roundtable discussion, Teens Talk, will include input from prominent area psychologists. Losing Lambert: A Journey Through Survival & Hope airs at 9:30 p.m., followed by The Misunderstood Epidemic: Depression at 10 p.m.  

“WQPT is very proud to partner with Mickle Communications to devote an evening of programming that addresses teen depression and suicide,” said Lora Adams, Director of Marketing and Local Content at WQPT/Quad Cities PBS. “We have all experienced the sadness of opening a newspaper and seeing that a young person has taken this path. It is heartbreaking, but if there is an opportunity to show them and their parents that there is help close by, we are glad to do that.”

“The production of this documentary has been a community-wide effort,” Mickle said. “It has involved meetings with mayors, as well as representatives from community mental health resources and numerous non-profit organizations.” 

The Reasons Behind These Tragedies Healthychildren.org reports that at least 90% of teens who commit suicide have some type of pre-existing condition, such as depression, anxiety, drug or alcohol abuse, or a behavior problem. They may also have problems at school or with friends or family, or a combination of different concerns. 

“The documentary will explore the many reasons behind teen suicide,” Mickle said, “so families, schools and even workplaces can be aware of the warning signs. Like any problem, the more people know about it, the more they can do to prevent it.”

To find out more about WQPT programming to address teen issues, visit wqpt.org/stopbullying. For more information on Mickle Communications, email mmickle@micklecommunications.com or visit micklecommunications.com