Two Loveland residents will be featured Tuesday on an MTV documentary focusing on depression, suicide and prevention.
The hourlong documentary, “Each and Every Day,” from director Alexandra Shiva features nine young survivors of suicide attempts or people dealing with suicidal thoughts from across the country who share their stories and emphasize the discussion around mental health.
Cheryl Mlcoch, the mother of one of the documentary’s featured teens and a survivor of a suicide attempt herself, said the filmmaker contacted her because she is a member of the American Association of Suicidology, on organization that promotes the understanding and prevention of suicide and supports people affected by it. She is the Colorado coordinator for the organization’s Impacted Family and Friends Division.
She connected the filmmaker with her son, 18-year-old Nathan Mlcoch, as well as another Loveland survivor, 25-year-old Mabri Bliss.
Mlcoch said watching her son speak on the documentary was surreal and difficult at times. But she said she knows the power of what he was part of as an attempted-suicide survivor.
“I know the power of sharing your story,” Mlcoch said. “I know it saves lives, and I know it won’t just help (him); it will help others.”
Bliss, who moved to Loveland a few years ago and has recently published a book on her own experience titled “Back to Bliss,” said she knew from a young age that she was experiencing depression. She said she went through a great deal of trauma in the past that influenced her mental health.
“I saw (suicide) as my only option for a while,” she said.
Bliss said after moving to Colorado, she has begun to heal through the publishing of her book and the support of the people around her.
Bliss said she saw the documentary as a good way to use a prominent platform to tell her story about what she has gone through.
“It feels good being able to share parts of yourself, even if you are dark,” Bliss said. “Someone who sees that is going to relate. I hope that is the outcome for this film.”
Mlcoch said she hopes the documentary will help young people across the country know that they can speak about how they are feeling and that there are ways to get help.
“The bottom line is we have got to break the taboo that surrounds mental health, mental wellness and suicide,” Mlcoch said. “It is that shame and guilt and the secrets; that is what kills people. Most people don’t want to die; they just want the pain to stop.”
“It is literally people’s lives on the line,” Bliss said. “If we are not talking about it, more people are going to die.”
The documentary will premiere commercial-free on MTV at 7 p.m. MST Tuesday.
Anyone contemplating suicide can call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 800-273-8255. You also can visit the Colorado Crisis Services website at coloradocrisisservices.org.