NEW YORK ILLUSTRATED: SUICIDE (TV)
Summary
One in this public affairs series devoted to issues that concern the greater New York area. This program, narrated by Ponchitta Pierce, explores the motivations for suicide and examines prevention methods. The program begins with an examination of the causes of suicide, including the stress related to school, work, and sexuality. Topics discussed include the following: the large number of suicide attempts that stem from low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness; the ambivalent feelings that many suicidal prople have about wanting to die; the large number of potential suicide victims who visit their physicians before committing the act; and the willingness of clergymembers to help people who have suicidal tendencies, in contrast to the reluctance of some social service professionals, who fear being blamed for the death of a patient. Also included is a visit to the National Save-A-Life League, a telephone hotline that provides on-the-spot counseling and referral services. Those interviewed include Dr. Ari Kiev; Dr. Ruth Lesser, director of the Post-Doctoral Clinic at New York University; Dr. Michael Bader, deputy chief medical examiner of New York City; and members of the Emergency Services Squad of the New York City Police Dep't. The program concludes with a segment on a counseling session, which involves a family whose mother has committed suicide. Commercials deleted. (This series occasionally runs under the title "New Jersey Illustrated" or "Connecticut Illustrated"; series dates unverified.)
Preservation of the Post–World War II American Television Documentary Collection is supported in part by a Federal Save America’s Treasures grant administered by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Details
- NETWORK: WNBC-TV
- DATE: February 9, 1975 10:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:25:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T90:0107
- GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Suicide - Prevention; Death and dying
- SERIES RUN: WNBC (New York, NY) - TV series, 1964-1976
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Joseph Michaels … Executive Producer
- Dinitia McCarthy … Producer, Writer
- Ponchitta Pierce … Narrator
- Ruth Lesser
- Ari Kiev
- Michael Bader