"I can't
shake the movie
from my psyche or my heart. I
absolutely loved it and consider it one
of the most relevant and
insightful movies I have watched in my
adult life. THANK YOU!"
Lorena
Ortega - Student
Activities, Golden West Community College
"I
would call Don’t
Change the Subject an experiential film; it
brings the viewer
closer to
the experience of and understanding of
suicide than anything I
have
watched in my thirty some years as a
counseling psychologist.
Again, I
think it is the director’s use of the arts
that allows this film to
speak to so
many people on so many levels. This
film would be as appropriate
for a
graduate course in a mental health
discipline as it would be
appropriate as a
stimulus for a writing class, an opening
film for student services
conference,
a discussion piece for residence hall
programming, or an empowering and
therapeutic experience for a grieving
family."
Dr.
Karl Laves -
Assistant Director, Counseling & Testing
Center, Western Kentucky
University
"This
is great. A really
lovely, warm, inspiring, moving
film about a subject that, yes, no
one
talks about."
Nev
Pierce - Movie
Critic/Writer for several outlets, including
Empire, LA Times, The
Sunday Times, Esquire, The Guardian
"I have
worked as a
Social Worker for the past 14
years. In that time, I have worked
with many who have considered suicide,
who have been affected by
suicide, and who have attempted
suicide. In that time, I have
also attended a lot of trainings that
were designed to educate me and
train me in how to deal with
suicide. I have NEVER seen
anything
more helpful, more relevant, more
touching, or more real, than “Don’t
Change The Subject.” It is
heartfelt, funny, tragic, and
raw. Mike Stutz has the uncanny
ability to take a taboo subject
and make it accessible using a
compassionate and original approach.
Whether or
not you THINK
you’ve been affected by suicide, I
highly recommend watching this
film. You will be touched and, if
nothing else, it will elevate
your understanding and
awareness. This film is
helping
people become less afraid of the topic
of suicide and just maybe … we
will all stop changing the subject."
Tracie
Jones - Licensed
Clinical Social Worker, Los
Angeles County Public Defender’s
Office
"What you
have created is
truly a unique masterpiece."
Sarah
Marks - Trauma
Intervention Program, San Diego CA
"As a
person who has lost a
loved one to suicide, I want to
convey my appreciation for your
efforts. I saw the stat somewhere
that one in 7 American families
loses
a member to suicide. I think your
movie has potential to keep many
families from becoming members of
that club nobody wants to belong
to."
Christine
Frizzell -
Director of Counseling, UMass Dartmouth
"The movie made
its point in an entertaining and engaging
way, without being overly maudlin or
sentimental, and is definitely not
preachy. In many different ways, and
through many different people's stories,
the message about the importance of
talking about suicide for the family
members and for survivors of attempts
comes through."
Nedra Kline Weinreich - Program Manager, Entertainment
Industries Council
"Don't Change
the Subject
tackles the complicated subject of
suicide on many levels. This film
explores the experience of suicide with
honesty while uniquely
incorporating humor and creativity. How
individuals make meaning of
loss and connect with loved ones who
have died by suicide is another
important element of the film. Don't
Change the Subject will be
meaningful and valuable to many who see
it, but the narratives
documented are especially important for
mental health professionals to
learn from."
Kathryn
Barbash - PsyD
Child and Adolescent Clinician, Boston, MA
"As a
social worker, I
believe this film could be so
instrumental to opening up dialogue
with
all types of people. This would
include both young and old who
struggle
with thoughts of killing themselves,
or have a loved one who has
committed suicide. Part of the
problem in our culture is that we
have
don’t encourage, but instead
discourage, people to talk about
feelings
that are related to suicide and
depression. It’s important for
people who are struggling to know
they are not alone.
I would recommend this film to
everyone. If this film was shown in
schools and could save at least one
life, then the mission of this film
has been accomplished. This film is
sad, funny, clever, thought
provoking, and inspiring."
Carolyn
Greenspan -
Psychiatric Social Worker II, Los
Angeles County Public Defender's
Office
Your Opinion
Soon we'll
have a forum for you to post your thoughts
on Don't
Change The Subject and/or
share your own experiences. But in
the meantime, please feel free
to share at the film's Facebook
page
