‍Mental health does not discriminate. It’s real. And it touches all of us.
But a solution exists. Most people just don’t know about it.
During our March screening of Shattered Ice at Queens University, something extraordinary happened. One individual, deeply moved by what he experienced, stepped forward with a bold commitment:
A $50,000 challenge gift. For the 50,000 lives lost to suicide every year.
His condition is simple: If we raise $100,000, he will donate $50,000.
So, this month, we’re asking our community to show up in a new way for the millions of Americans struggling in silence. Because awareness alone isn’t enough. What people do in a moment of crisis can mean the difference between life and loss.
And that’s exactly what this next chapter is about:

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we invite you to join us in supporting the next phase of The Calm and the Storm, a feature-length documentary aimed at breaking through to the mainstream culture and stopping the suicide epidemic in its tracks.
We are stepping into this project in partnership with mental health advocate and filmmaker Matt Simon and Round 7 Productions, as well as collaborators such as NAMI, Vic Armstrong with AFSP, April Simpkins, lawmakers and more because we believe deeply that collaboration is how real change happens.
And the need has never been more urgent, even sadly right here in our own community.
Together, we can tell a story that reaches millions, far beyond the limits of any single organization — and ensures that more people know where to turn before it’s too late.

The Reality

‍Every 11 seconds, someone attempts suicide in the U.S.
1 in 5 young adults experience mental illness each year
Stigma remains one of the biggest barriers to seeking help
Communities lack accessible, relatable storytelling that drives action