How One Teen’s Suicide Attempt Led to a Life-Changing App | PBS Short Docs

Overwhelmed and reeling from a suicide attempt, Hannah Lucas and her brother set out to develop a digital panic button — and now it's saving lives.

In this short documentary, mental health activist Hannah Lucas shares the story of her chronic illness diagnosis and the struggles with anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation that came with it. After a startling suicide attempt, she and her brother decided to develop an app for people who are struggling to reach out to loved ones when they need help.

Let us know how YOU take care of your mental health in the comments below.

#MentalHealthAwareness #LetsTalk #Documentary


CREDITS

A film by Redglass Pictures
Directed by Sarah Klein & Tom Mason
Executive Producers: Kelly Deckert, Justin Rhodes, John Wilson
Producer: Heather Martino
Edited by: Tom Mason
Cinematographer: Tim Reis
Location Sound: Paul Katzman
Additional Cinematography: Tom Mason
Assistant Camera: John Manfredi
Color Grade: Stephen Derluguian
Sound Mix: Cory Choy of Silver Sound

MUSIC

“Kindred Spirits” by Terry Devine-King
“Wormholes” by Dan Skinner and Adam Skinner
“Getting Away With Murder” by Luke Richards
“Uncertain Times” by Paul Mottram
“Watch Over Me” by Paul Mottram
“Tall Tales” by Luke Richards

Additional Footage Provided by Prelinger Archive

Special Thanks to Hannah Lucas and Charlie Lucas. Robin Lucas, Naeemah Rolle, Vbrags Volleyball

Educational Outreach Support Provided by American Public Media’s Call to Mind Initiative, PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs, WE Charity, Forbes, PEOPLE, Mental Health America, National Council for Behavioral Health, The Steve Fund, and The Jed Foundation.

Original Production Funding for Support for “Out of the Dark”
Otsuka, Kaiser Permanente, Bank of America, Liberty Mutual Insurance, American Psychiatric Association Foundation, One Mind, Movember, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Dana Foundation, Dauten Family Foundation, The Hersh Foundation, Mental Health Services Oversight & Accountability Commission, John & Frances Von Schlegell, Sutter Health, Robina Riccitiello, and Jackson Family Enterprises

For WETA
Digital Content Producer: Cori Kipps
Social Media Manager: Chase Ellington
Digital Coordinator: Eleftheria Giannopoulos

Out of the Dark is produced by WETA, which is solely responsible for its content.

© 2021 WETA. All rights reserved.

[benjaminallen]

Genius, thank you for sharing and making it better for others. I lost my brother to suicide in 1994.

[livl.]

This just saved my life. I started breaking down watching this video, and I realized that the things I have been doing to mask my pain are at a limit. With out this moment of introspection I would have not realized that I am on the brink of crisis. With this moment of clarity I am able to recognize that I am at that same point I have been before where the background thoughts are about to become action.

[mascadadelpantion]

Being a person who had suicidal thoughts himself. I find that other people who had suicidal thoughts, usually attempted extremely hard!! to focus on the positive early in their life

[booksinbed]

Thank you for making this clip. I had heard a bit of her and her brother’s story before because she has the same health condition I have - POTS. It’s actually not that uncommon of a condition, but it’s not very well diagnosed. It often hits teenagers hard, and anxiety and depression can come along as well, especially when doctors can’t figure out what’s wrong. She turned that dark experience into something great, and to be able to see her talk here really inspired me.

[fitnesswithsteve]

This is great that here brother put all that work into this just to help his sister and now he’s helping thousands of people. It’s not going to help everyone in this situation but even if it can save one life, it’s worth it.

The difficult scenario is when you do ask for help a lot of time it just means spending the night in a depressing emergency room and being treated like livestock. You are either drugged up, or released when you decide it’s easier to lie and say you’re ok, than endure the hospital any longer. I don’t know what the solution is, or if there even is a solution, however they way it is now, is not very helpful to most suicidal people.

[yulebones]

Hannah and Charlie - you've done something really amazing. I think this would have made a huge difference in my life had the tech been available when I was younger, and I know it's going to me a huge difference for *so many* people now. Thank you for doing this, even though you had no idea how important and wide-reaching it would be when you made it.

[ItsLexy]

I wish this was longer and went over how the app works because right now without looking at it on the app store I'm just imagining it sends a push notification to everyone in your contacts and honestly that wouldn't be something I wanted. Some people in my contacts I wouldn't want to know I was not okay.

[thairinkhudr]

I think this is exactly what happened to my mom. She is a strong woman who worked days and nights and taking care of us 3 siblings, while also working against a corrupt system at her workplace. Suddenly she just collapsed and couldn't walk for months, sleeping and staying in bed for a good 2 years at least.

[MegaManki]

I would love to have such an app, unfortunately it’s not available outside the US apparently:(

[itsroween]

Charlie let me give you your flowers man. Not only are you a awesome brother but a tech healthcare game changer. Bravo Sir 🌹

[TFC]

On top of her being amazing, let's just appreciate her BEAUTIFUL curls!! Love it 💕

[What..Is..Truth..]

This app is no longer avaliable. It says it's only for older versions of Android. And no ther app like this is avaliable to my knowledge. Any thoughts?

[gungrave]

my problem isn't depression though. it's not able to be explained in a few short sentences, but to try to put it simply depression isn't the reason I want to be dead. and it's not a fixable or manageable problem, because it's not a problem per say. there are things I find unacceptable about life, and reality. those things can't change, and the way I feel about them is just as valid as someone who believes in a religion, or more so depending if you aren't religious.

[jamesonpace]

You are awesome!
You need another shirt that says "Will Be OK", or such. All you gotta do is survive - it really DOES get better...!

[lochan]

2021 was the hardest, darkest time of my life. I was physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually BROKEN. But now I feel genuinely GRATEFUL and BLESSED that I had to go through that phase because GOD graciously REVEALED Himself to me in miraculous ways. I am fortunate that He allowed me to know Him at a very young age, but this year is SPECIAL because of what WE (yes, GOD and me) have been through last year. He showed me how POWERFUL prayers truly are when I started to focus on WHO HE IS rather than who I am, on WHAT HE CAN DO rather than what I deserve. The experience was MAGICAL. He showed up BIG TIME and assured me that HE is indeed a LISTENING and RESPONDING GOD. Oh how my faith has skyrocketed as a result! Now more than ever, I have very bright HOPE for my future because I personally experienced how RELIABLE God is. And for that I will forever be grateful. GLORY BE TO GOD, MY EVER FAITHFUL FATHER. ♥️♥️♥️

To everyone who's struggling right now, please know that GOD LOVES YOU. He wants to help you and give you peace. Please surrender your burdens to Him and allow Him to move in your life.

"Because he loves Me, ” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges My Name. He will call on Me, and I will answer him;  I will be with him in trouble,  I will deliver him and honor him." (Psalm 91:14-15)

Please hold on to this bible verse because WHATEVER GOD SAYS, HE FULFILLS. 🙏