My Ascension

Credit: Courtesy of Greg Dicharry

After an attempt to end her life left her paralyzed, Emma Benoit uses her painful experience and ongoing recovery to help others find hope, while shining light on the ongoing youth suicide crisis.

At 16 years old, varsity cheerleader Emma Benoit attempted to end her life, an incident that resulted in a spinal cord injury that left her paralyzed. For years, she had quietly struggled with anxiety and depression, too ashamed to share her pain with family and friends. My Ascension is the story of the day that changed Emma's life, and everything that's happened since. My Ascension airs Saturday, September 30 at 3 p.m.

My Ascension is an inspiring look at Emma's story - and at two other remarkable young people who did not survive their own suicide attempts - as the film talks to families, friends, school officials, and suicide prevention experts. Despite this tragedy, Emma was propelled to use her painful experience and ongoing recovery to help others find hope, while shining light on the ongoing youth suicide crisis.

This program is part of Move to Include, a partnership between WXXI and the Golisano Foundation designed to promote inclusion for people with developmental, intellectual, and physical disabilities. This Move to Include model expands nationally this year to five additional communities with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people. To learn more about the national efforts, visit movetoinclude.us.