A Colorado family who lost their 15-year-old son and brother to suicide in 2019 premieres a new film in Denver this weekend as part of their ongoing suicide prevention work. The film, part of a docuseries called "Mountain in my Mind," arrives during Suicide Prevention Month and continues a mission the family started after Jack Padilla's death.
Jack was a freshman at Cherry Creek High School when he attempted suicide in 2019 and died nine days later. His father, Rick Padilla, said the family made a conscious choice after Jack's death to go public with their story as part of their own healing. He said suicide prevention and mental health need to be conversations people have with one another, not topics kept quiet.
Since then, the Padillas have pushed for legislation in Colorado, started a suicide prevention program in Denver, and created the four-part docuseries. Jack's older brother John, five years his senior, founded the project. The brothers used to ride together, Jack on a snowboard and John on skis, and that shared love of the mountains shaped the series.
Part 4, a 45-minute film that took two years to make, premieres Saturday evening at the Space Annex Art Gallery in Denver at 6 p.m. John Padilla said the team focused on mountain communities because the suicide rate in mountain towns is more than double the national average. The films look at mental health issues common in the Mountain West, particularly in ski towns, and feature interviews with athletes ranging from Olympians and World Cup skiers to X Games competitors to everyday people who simply love the mountains. John said the goal is to give athletes room to be honest instead of only showing the polished version of themselves seen on a podium.
The family hopes the film breaks the silence around these struggles and keeps other families from walking the same road alone. Rick Padilla said he hopes the work is making a difference and saving lives, and that the family is building a legacy for Jack he would be proud of, whether or not he's here to see it. John Padilla keeps a photo of Jack close by as a reminder of why the work matters. He said the project has already helped 83 people, based on letters, direct messages, texts and emails they've received, and that he hopes Jack would be proud of what they've built.
What I'd tell a client about this
The lesson here isn't really about filmmaking. It's about what happens when you turn a painful, private experience into something structured enough that other people can use it. The Padillas didn't just talk about their loss. They built legislation, a program, and a docuseries around it. That's the difference between processing grief and channeling it into something that outlives the moment. As a coach, I spend a lot of time helping clients turn a hard experience in their own field into one clear, useful lesson for the people watching them. This story is a reminder that the format matters less than the follow-through. A conversation, a program, a film, a habit. Pick one and build it out.
One thing to do this week
Tickets for Part 4 of "Mountain in my Mind" are available online or at the door for Saturday's Denver premiere, with a portion of proceeds going to local nonprofits working on youth suicide prevention. If you can't make it to Denver, the crew tours other cities each year, including Breckenridge and Steamboat Springs. This week, take five minutes to check when the tour might be near you, or simply have one honest conversation with someone in your life about how they're really doing. September is Suicide Prevention Month, and small, direct check-ins matter more than most people realize.
If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available by call or text.
Related reading from us: Enoch Turns Grief Into a Healing Garden Three Years After Family's Murder
