Suicide Films About Adolescents (IN: Suicide and the Creative Arts, edited by S Stack & D Lester)

This chapter opens with an extensive discussion of the developmental history of adolescents & factors that may increase their risk of suicide. Adolescent suicides are present in many movies as the central theme or as part of a general theme. Some movies concerning adolescent suicide are reviewed in this chapter, including: Dead Poet’s Society; The Virgin Suicides; Girl Interrupted; Ben X; Mr. Jones; 28 Days; One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest; Suicide Club; & 2:37. Some commonalities in the adolescent suicides are discussed, for example, the effect of the family & family environment & the lack of social support. (11 refs.)