GP WF “I Want to Jump” – Deborah Paulsen, Jason Campbell, USA, 2023, 74’

Synopsis: In the quiet chaos of an ordinary town, “I Want to Jump” unflinchingly explores the invisible torment of Justin Paulsen, a young man trapped in the relentless grip of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and suicidal ideation. Haunted by intrusive thoughts he can’t escape and silenced by the stigma that surrounds mental illness, Justin battles not just his mind—but a world that often looks away.

At the heart of his story is Deborah, his devoted mother, who fights to hold her son’s world together even as her own begins to unravel. Consumed by fear and heartbreak, Deborah’s love becomes both her strength and her doom, as the weight of helplessness leaves her with her own trauma—PTSD born from the war she couldn’t win alone.

As friends fade and the church turns its back, “I Want to Jump” confronts the devastating consequences of isolation, ignorance, and shame. But in its darkest moments, the film also finds light. A raw, emotional call to action, this story demands empathy over judgment and presence over perfection. Because sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do… is simply not walk away.

This film is not just about struggle—it’s about survival. It’s about using pain for purpose, and the radical hope that comes when we choose to sit with each other in the storm.

• Director: Deborah Paulsen, Jason Campbell
• Writer: Jason Campbell
• Producer: Deborah Paulsen, Jason Campbell
• Key Cast: Jana Lee Hamblin, Eddie Mc