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2025 Judging – Suicide Prevention

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Dear Judge,

We encourage you to seek personal support if you become troubled by the content of this category. If you experience an emotional crisis, there are people available to help you by calling or texting 988 for the 24/7 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

The entry you are judging is a 60-second film in the Suicide Prevention category. Suicide is a complex and sensitive subject which needs to be addressed with compassion and knowledge. This category has special content that must be included and specific content that must be avoided for the safety of and respect for the audience.

At any point if you are experiencing technical difficulties with the website, or have questions regarding the category description, please email dori@youthcreatingchange.org

In advance, we appreciate your time.

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Entry Details

Judge Name*

Messaging Scoring Measures

Films should have a positive message that is hopeful and focused on suicide prevention and support. Please assess how well the film’s message is communicated as well as how effective it is in educating and encouraging others.

Examples of appropriate messages:
  • Learn the warning signs: Films can educate viewers about warning signs for suicide. Most people show one or more warning signs before an attempt, so it is important to know the signs and take them seriously (especially if a behavior is new or has increased and/or if it seems related to a painful event, loss, or change).
  • Don’t keep suicide a secret: Films can show that it is ok to break a friend’s trust and share concerns with an adult if you think they might be thinking about harming themself.
  • Find the words to start a conversation: Asking someone “Are you thinking about suicide?” will not put thoughts of suicide in their mind. In fact, asking this direct question is important.
  • Help someone find their reasons for living: There are steps you can take to support a friend who is thinking about suicide. One of the most important steps is helping them find their reasons for living and reminding them that pain never lasts, and you can get better together.
  • Reach out for help: Films can encourage people to ask for help from a trusted adult or by calling a crisis line, for themselves or a friend. If someone talks about ending their life, take them seriously and connect them to help. Remind them that they are never a bother.
Note: The message does not have to be one of those listed here as long as it is focused on suicide prevention. Messages can be conveyed through dialogue, actions, or other creative means, and don’t necessarily need to be stated directly.
Please enter a number from 0 to 30.

It is okay for films to talk about life problems that may increase a person’s risk of suicide – such as family issues (divorce, abuse) or social issues (bullying, break ups) – as these can possibly contribute to a young person feeling hopeless, engaging in reckless or harmful behaviors, or isolating themselves from others (all of which are warning signs for suicide); however, films should not point to one of these events as THE cause of suicide or thoughts of suicide. No one event “causes” a suicide, and individuals who experience suicidal thoughts or attempt suicide are often dealing with multiple difficult situations.

Additionally, it often takes more than “a simple act of kindness” to save a life or to heal from the root causes that contribute to thoughts of suicide. For instance, although picking up someone’s books when they fall is a nice metaphor for treating others with empathy and compassion, recovery and suicide are both complicated.

Please enter a number from 0 to 20.
3. Does the film apply appropriate language and/or safe messaging (where applicable)?*
Please review the safe messaging and language guidelines below when scoring this question. You will answer “no” if one or more of these were not applied.

  • The film provides a suicide prevention resource: Most films will meet this criterion by including the required endslate, but they are welcome to incorporate additional resources in their film such as, but not limited to, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and Teen Line.
  • The film does not include portrayals of suicide deaths or attempts or items that can be used in a suicide attempt: This includes, but is not limited to, a person jumping off a building or bridge, or holding a gun to their head). Portraying actions related to suicide attempts and showing items someone might use for a suicide attempt even in dramatization, can increase chances of an attempt by someone who might be thinking about suicide and exposed to the film.
  • The film avoids harmful statistics: Statistics are a complex factor in creating safe suicide prevention messages, so we recommend that our participants not use them. Films should especially avoid using statistics that make suicide seem common or inevitable (which could encourage a young person already thinking about suicide to mistakenly believe that it is a normal and acceptable solution to their problems). Saying something such as “a person dies by suicide every 18 minutes” also takes the focus off of the help available to those who are struggling. Remember, films should be focused on raising awareness around suicide prevention, not just convincing people that suicide is a problem.
  • The film uses appropriate language around suicide (if applicable): The suicide prevention community is trying to clarify the ways people refer to actions related to suicide. The clearer and more respectful we can be when speaking about actions related to suicide, the more we will be able to remove misconceptions that prevent people from getting support.
    • Use “died by suicide” or “took their own life” (do not use committed suicide)
    • Use “attempted suicide”. Suicide and suicide attempts should not be referred to as “successful” or “unsuccessful,” as the concept of “success” (or its lack) does not apply to suicide.
Please enter a number from 0 to 10.
Please enter a number from 0 to 10.
Please enter a number from 0 to 10.
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