Remembering Tom: Coping with Youth Suicide

Suicide may be the last act for the person who commits it, but it is never the final word for the families left behind who must cope with the loss and pain. In Remembering Tom, all the members of a close-knit family speak two years after the fact about the feelings of shock and guilt they experienced when drug-addicted 18-year-old Tom ended his live by jumping from a bridge into an icy river. Speaking directly to the camera, the members present a family torn apart by anguish as it takes a step by step look at the long healing process. While the film does not offer advice on recognizing suicidal tendencies in advance or intervention, this powerful National Film Board of Canada production would be a very useful tool for group discussion and awareness programs for those struggling with the aftermath of teen suicide. Especially riveting is the articulate and thoughtful testimony of Tom's sister Rachel, a young woman wise and sensitive far beyond her 17 years of age. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (R. Ray)