Hero of the day: Bryce Mackie
Seventeen-year-old boy Bryce Mackie was just a regular kid from Battle Creek, Michigan, trudging through high school and hanging out with his friends. But when he was a junior he fell into a deep depression, and sense of emptiness engulfed him. He became suicidal.
Now, after being stabilized on Celexa, Mackie has made a short film, Eternal High, about his experience with depression in a bid to raise awareness about the illness.
“No one seems to talk about things that make them uncomfortable,” Mackie told the Lakeview High School's Crystal. “When I tell people that the film is about depression, their face just drops, and they say ‘Oh, okay. Good luck with that.’ It makes people go out of their comfort zone.”
He also says, “Unless you’ve gone through depression you have no clue about the pain you go through, and the darkness. I just want for kids to get help and know that they’re not alone.”
Wow. I was sneaking cigarettes in the school parking lot and hanging out at Burger King for hours when I was in high school. Bryce Mackie, I salute you.
See a clip from Mackie's film here.
[Image of teenagers by Tim Caynes via Flickr.]
Comments
It's great to see a kid take on a project like this. Awesome. Just absoluet-ily awesome!
Ouch, ouch, ouch, one of my 21 yr old son's best school friend is in the local county jail for 3 months, and more will probably come: DUI, parole violation, cocaine, oxycon. I've had a soft spot for this kid since he was 12. Good looking, in gifted program (until he rebeliously left), good manners, personable.
Why has this happened? High functioning alcoholic father rejection/neglect = depression. He hid it so well. You'd never know and my son didn't realize how depressed he'd been for so long until just last weekend. Then drugs and beer taste good. So how many of our prisoners really ended up where they are because of depression or manic depression. A lot.
Besides as a way to cope himself, the kid did a great thing making this film so that those youth who see can be aware of depression in themselves and others. President Bushbomb outta give him an award.
Posted by: beagles | March 31, 2006 02:05 PM
I have a concern about the mental health awareness in the schools. My son died via suicide on 9/28/06. Since that time I have looked into what prevention/awareness programs our schools are offering and seeing that there is not really much they are doing. I have contacted the school and am excited about the opportunity to possibly begin a prevention program and I have ordered your CD as a start. Perhaps we should have a week of awareness and each day hit another issue or topic (depression, suicide, anxiety,eating disorder etc). Kids are dying and we cant just sweep it under the rug. Suicide is a top killer in youth and if we start talking to these kids in middle school and do it every year who knows how many kids we might save. If you have any suggestions or ideas about how I can get this going please call me regarding this issue that I feel quite passionate about. Unfortunately I am visiting my sons tombstone and its absolutely heartbreaking. He was only 14. Thanks for being brave and sharing your story. http://bryce-herrera.memory-of.com/
12/25/91 - 9/28/06
Thanks so much.
Posted by: M.A. Herrera | August 7, 2007 03:44 PM