One Kind Word was born from the poem “Billie” featured in Dry Nights, a poetry collection by Pep Borja that UOG Press published in 2021 and expanded into a short film produced with Muña. The poem shares memories of Billie, a close friend Borja met in his high school CHamoru class. It goes on to describe his experience of losing her to suicide and how it impacted him.

The SEOW continually reveals that men and people under the age of 30 represent the highest numbers of suicide death. The film features testimonies from youth and men in the community who share why it is difficult to talk about mental health and who encourage more resources and creative outlets for these vulnerable groups.

“Guam has carried the weight of suicide loss for a long time, often in silence. One Kind Word doesn't ask us to look away from that. Instead, it asks us to sit with each other's stories, the ones we don't usually say out loud,” said GBHWC Director Dr. Carissa E. Pangelinan. “That's where healing starts, with people trusting each other enough to be honest. We're proud to have supported a project that gives our community that kind of space, and we hope it opens the door for more of these conversations across the island.”

The University of Guam Press (UOG Press) and Brian Muña Films are set to showcase One Kind Word, a documentary that centers around the often-unheard voices of those who have lost a loved one to suicide, also known as survivors of suicide loss. The film, which highlights Guam’s suicide crisis and promotes prevention, will premiere Friday, Oct. 2, at 7:00 p.m. at the Micronesia Mall Theaters, and will be shown throughout October.

More than raising awareness, One Kind Word aims to spark conversation about mental health, loss, connection, and healing by sharing the personal stories of suicide loss and attempt survivors, first responders, and health professionals as captured by the film’s cinematographer and award-winning filmmaker Brian Muña.

Created in partnership with the Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center’s (GBHWC) Focus on Life Program and supported by the Office of the Governor, the documentary uses storytelling, poetry, visual art, and testimonial experiences to examine the factors behind the prevalence of suicide in Guam.

“Suicide leaves too many families with unanswered questions and profound grief. I am proud to support this film, which gives voice to Guamanians who have lost loved ones and reminds those struggling that they are not alone,” shares Lt. Governor Josh Tenorio. “At this premiere, public servants and community organizations will share resources and foster conversations about healing and prevention. We hope our island rallies behind this effort to break the silence, inspire hope, and strengthen our community.”

“Too many people in our community carry the pain of losing someone they love to suicide, and while this experience is so painfully common, it is often not talked about,” adds UOG Press Director Victoria-Lola Leon Guerrero, who co-directed the the film with Via De Fant. “We hope One Kind Word inspires people in our community to have these necessary conversations, help others who are struggling, and know that kindness can heal and save lives.” 

According to Guam’s State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup (SEOW), Guam’s suicide rate remains significantly higher than the U.S. In 2020, the island experienced a suicide rate of 21.9 per 100,000 people in 2022, compared to the U.S. average of 14.9 per 100,000 people. In 2024, there were 43 reported suicide deaths in Guam. 

“There’s more to it than that, it’s more than the numbers,” Dr. Annette David, the chair of the Guam SEOW Workgroup, shares in the film. “It’s the stories behind each and every number that we have. Behind every statistic is a person… The data that the SEOW works with, it can answer the questions of how many and who are affected and how did the suicide happen and where did the suicide happen and when, but it doesn’t answer the why.” 

Dr. David emphasizes the need for a psychological autopsy, a retrospective diagnostic method used to pinpoint contributing factors to an individual’s decision to commit suicide.

Tickets for One Kind Word will be available for purchase online at mmtheatres.com one week before the premiere, and in person at the event. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with community organizations and service providers available at informational booths. The film screening starts at 7:00 p.m., followed by a panel discussion at 8:30 p.m. to explore themes and resources around suicide prevention. Seating will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

A schedule of subsequent showings will be released by MM Theatres on a weekly basis and patrons can view the film throughout the month of October.

UOG Press is grateful to its community partners and sponsors KUAM, Moylan’s Insurance, Bank of Guam, TakeCare Insurance Company, Inc., Calvo's Select Care, Docomo Pacific, and Micronesia Mall Theaters for their support of the documentary and its overall message.

For more information, please contact UOG Press Publicist Marilea Torcelino at torcelinom@triton.uog.edu or (671) 735-2153.