The movie is called "To Save a Life." The story follows Jake, a successful high school senior, as he examines what's really important in life. His childhood friend Roger kills himself at school, opening up Jake's eyes to how the "losers" are treated and what needs to change in order to prevent anyone else from repeating Roger's actions.
Most of the research I've done about teen depression and suicide says that the one who is depressed needs medication. That, or else the bullies need to be removed from the person's life. While I don't agree that medication should be prescribed without being 110% sure it's needed, and I do agree wholeheartedly that bullies should stop being bullies, I know for a fact that they won't. However, the one thing that will change a person's life for good is God, and this movie translated that fact so subtly that if you weren't paying attention, you would miss it, but any time you would think about it later, that's the thought you would think. Sure, friends are nice. Friends who actually like you are even better. But doesn't the Bible itself say that Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than a brother?
I don't know that I would give my unequivocal stamp of approval on it for kids to watch, because even though eventually it is all condemned, it does have a little cussing (buy TV Guardian!), some drugs and drinking, and a suggestive scene.
This movie was very encouraging for me because Jake sort of did what I want to do. He wrote Roger's story and his own story and put them on his social networking site. The response he got was amazing! Just knowing someone else is going through the same horrible feelings makes it not so bad. I am even more determined to get my story out there, and maybe I can save a life, too. If you have a story like this and would like to save lives by sharing it, email me and I will include it in my book.