Each And Every Day Spotlights Teen Survivors' Stories, As Suicide Rates Rise

By Sara Radin


“I don’t think I ever completely wanted to die,” Saniya, a student at Drexel University, shares while looking directly into a camera. “I think I wanted to escape.” Saniya is one of several young people at the center of  Each and Every Day, a new film from MTV Documentary Films by acclaimed filmmaker Alexandra Shiva that explores the different experiences of students in high school and college navigating “the darker stuff” of life — the bad moments as soon as taking one’s own life felt like the only way forward — and why they kept living.


According to the National Institute of Mental Health, suicide is the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 34, and in 2019, there were 47,511 deaths by suicide. Mental-illness stigma prevents several individuals from seeking help, nevertheless talking about it is one of the key things that could help save lives. This thinking is at the heart of Each and Every Day.


“I really wanted to do a film that focused on prevention of suicide in young people,” Shiva tells MTV News. The filmmaker is interested in exploring identity through different lenses, with a concentrate on young people and coming-of-age stories that capture marginalized communities, feelings of belonging, and the creation of connections. Shiva previously directed the HBO doc How to Dance in Ohio about the prom experience of teenagers living with autism. She routinely makes a point to let her subjects speak for themselves.


Shiva designed this project, which airs on MTV at 9 p.M. Today (February 16), to help young viewers understand what's going on within themselves by means of the vulnerability and storytelling of other people. This meant giving a diverse order of people a platform to share their stories, no matter how painful.


“I wanted to walk people by means of the experience of others where they have either attempted [suicide], or have come close to attempting although they are on the other side of that and they've done a lot of work,” Shiva says. She considered that sharing these narratives would permit young people to impart wisdom and worthwhile equipment they’ve derived through their hard experiences. “I was so inspired by how straightforward and open they were about talking about mental health.”


That openness is at the heart of destigmatizing mental health conversations. “Talking about [suicide] shows people that they’re not alone, that having these convos supports the teach other people how they will assist one another, and why mental health is a single experience,” says licensed clinical social worker Elizabeth Beecroft. “Although suicide might be typical, people’s paths aren’t identical, and we have to face it in our own unique ways.”


It also accommodates viewers understand the necessary for mental health support. Beecroft hopes this film will encourage more people to integrate new prevention services in programs in education, foster care, athletics, and beyond.


Accordingly, Each and Every Day centers on a dialogue between a crowd of young people who share their experiences with one another through a video-chat program, which was an adjustment made due to COVID-19. Text bubbles, iPhone and residence interviews, and voiceovers are thrown in to give a clear, robust picture of each individual’s life, along with photo montages showing their younger selves, families, and friends.


Once it came to selecting participants, Shiva says her team cast a wide net. “It was really crucial that whoever we selected was someone who was in a safe enough space, safe enough place for themselves have the ability to talk about this publicly and on-air on MTV,” she explains. “We were really cautious in terms of the selection process, and also a lot of the people that we ended up with are people who, with their attempt and their recovery, are working on spreading the message.” As an example, a participant named Emma right now works at a volunteer suicide prevention hotline, while a student named Abraham gives talks about his experience with clubs on campus.


The film aims to show that feelings of isolation and lack of community are universal, while also showcasing some people’s techniques for taking better care of themselves. “It was very crucial for us that the subjects were all diverse and that there was a diverse sort of experience, so not each person came from the same place in life,” Shiva says. This was done to make sure that more people saw themselves reflected in the stories of the participants and associated with their journeys.


“The stories were as varied as we may find,” she says. “And then, one of the things I thought was incredibly intense was the national reckoning with racial injustice this summer.” Due to this, Each and Every Day implements several stories associated with the trauma and the physical and emotional toll of racism. “It made it clear that racism and inequality are also mental health issues.”


The shared perspective also extends to widespread mental-health challenges, as Shiva discovered that they’re actually regular and don’t necessarily lead to attempts. “Almost each person faces not necessarily suicidal thoughts, however mental-health challenges at some point in their lives. There's commonality around that."


Mental health impacts all of us. The film is raw, open, sincere, also it comes at a crucial time any time the pandemic is causing a rise in suicide rates among young people due to isolation and the fact that several of us are trapped with our thoughts. Nevertheless finding the courage to talk about it may be for several people, as for the film's director, a scary task.


“There's a fear of touching the subject,” Shiva says. “With the help of those young participants, it seemed like, let's just talk about it, let's get this out. There's a way to get into this material and really be truthful without overstimulating other people, and that's a fine balance, although it’s doable.”


Ultimately, Shiva hopes that the film resonates with anyone who's had or currently having thoughts of suicide, that they'll feel much less alone and like there's hope. Creating a life worth living is possible.


If you or someone you know is struggling with their emotional health, head to halfofus.Com for ways to get help.