November 17, 2007: National Survivors of Suicide Day

This past weekend was the official date of National Survivors of Suicide Day, as announced on the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention web-site (click on the title link above).

As you may, or may not, know, "A Fork in the Road," is based upon a true life story -- my family's.

When I was in my first year in college, my father attempted suicide by turning on his car in the closed garage of our suburban home.

Coincidentally, my younger brother came home early from high school and found our father before it was too late. He saved him by accident.

According to NFSP, "every 16 minutes, someone dies by suicide."

My film "A Fork in the Road," is for everyone who has thought of suicide and their loved ones -- for "every 17 minutes," as the NFSP also stated, "someone is left to make sense of it."

I tribute my first film to my brother, Kjarsten, and my father, Dale.

Heidi E. Philipsen