PHILADELPHIA - TelAve -- Suicide is a global epidemic. In the United States alone, more than 120 people die by suicide every day, and research suggests that the number may rise due to the Coronavirus and the long-lasting impact it may have on mental health. But there is hope. Public health officials agree that simply talking to a person at risk for suicide is a crucial preventative step, and connecting them to a support system, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, can literally save their life.

In an effort to promote suicide awareness and prevention, award-winning filmmaker L. Marcus Williams has made his short film "Lifeline" available on the internet, free of charge (see link below). It tells the story of a woman who calls a suicide hotline in a moment of despair, and the operator who answers her call and must do everything he can to keep her on the line. An intense but intimate conversation unfolds between the two strangers - one that will have a profound, life-affirming effect on both of their lives.

"My goal with this film is to get people talking about suicide in an honest and sympathetic way," says Williams. "I hope it will encourage people to call for help if they are in crisis, or if they know somebody who is, to reach out to them and offer them help."

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The film is inspired by Williams' own experience as a crisis hotline operator and a survivor of attempted suicide. It was his thesis film at Brooklyn College in New York, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in both psychology and film production. The film has since gone on to win several awards, including a grant from the National Board of Review.

As humbled as he is by the accolades, Williams says that the real reward has been the messages he has received from people who have seen the film. "They tell me how grateful they are that I shared my story, that it reminds them that they aren't alone and that help is just a phone call away."

You can watch "Lifeline" now at http://watchlifeline.video/free.

For more information on the film, visit http://aflyonthe4thwall.com.

If you or anyone you know is thinking about suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. The call is free and confidential, and counselors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.