A few years ago, Summit County resident Drew Petersen was deeply struggling with his mental health. Facing suicidal thoughts that would consistently reverberate through his head, Petersen searched for a goal to latch onto that would get him through what he was facing and onto the next day.

Petersen, who grew up in Summit County with a deep love for the outdoors, set a goal to run 100 miles with the idea being if he can fight through the mental health struggles he was facing, then he could complete any athletic feat.

With that in mind, Petersen — who is a professional skier sponsored by Salomon — began training for the 2022 Leadville Trail 100. While logging base miles in the lead-up to the race, Petersen also skied lines across the peaks that surround Leadville, getting familiar with the Sawatch Mountain Range before running the challenging course.

In an emotional and physical journey, Petersen successfully completed the 100-mile race in August 2022. Petersen ran across the finish line at the historic corner of 6th Street and Harrison Avenue in a time of 24 hours, 32 minutes and 3 seconds to place 67th overall and 11th in his division.

Beyond helping to conquer his mental health struggles, the months leading up to that moment — and the race itself — also serve as the subject of Petersen’s newest film, “Feel It All,” which is set for its premiere at Summit High School on Wednesday, May 29.

Much like the first film Petersen was featured in, “Ups & Downs,” the new skiing and running film sets to break the stigma that surrounds mental health and suicide, especially in mountain town communities like Summit County.

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“I knew very early in my journey that I would want to speak up about mental health and suicide and use my story to help others,” Petersen said. “At the start of the pandemic, I was back here in Summit — when, in the span of 16 days, two Summit High School students died by suicide and two others attempted and survived. I saw myself in those kids, and I saw what so easily could have been my outcome. I knew I had to get myself to a place where I could help them.”

Since “Ups and Downs” came out, Petersen has been on a mission to start a cultural wave that is open to talking about mental health and suicide prevention. After traveling across the U.S. speaking about his cause, Petersen worked alongside other Colorado-based creatives — Jesse Levine and Tyler Boyd — and started to tirelessly work on the vision of “Feel It All.”

“After two years of working on this film, I am over the moon to share it with the world,” Petersen said. “The whole mission of this film is for it help people and to impact culture on mental health and suicide.”

The film also delves deep into the evolution of Petersen throughout the years. From a being a young adventurous kid growing up in Summit County to his first thoughts of suicide at the age of 9, the film takes viewers on a journey as Petersen documents the challenges he has faced in each new chapter of his life.

Although Petersen has been part of numerous mental health forums or film premieres over the better part of the last three years, he feels like he has not been able to make the same impact within his own Summit County community.

“Bringing that purpose and passion home is what I am most excited about,” Petersen said. “On a really broad level, I have this deep fire in my soul that I know I can help a lot of people. I can save a lot of lives, and I do save a lot of lives. Knowing that I have that inside me, it creates this obsession, drive and passion that I have to do this.”

Petersen hopes to be the role model he would have looked up to as a young skier facing depression and suicidal thoughts.

“I idolized pro skiers,” Petersen said. “There was a real lack of role models, especially male role models who exhibited mental intelligence and male vulnerability. When I was a kid, if I could have heard a pro skier talking about mental health or suicide, my entire life would have been different. It probably would have saved me two decades of pain.”

Now a professional skier himself and in a position to make inspiring films, Petersen has shouldered the responsibility of being that role model for people in mountain communities to look up to and find comfort in.

“I have the privilege and responsibility to be that for other people, especially kids,” Petersen said. “It is a lot to hold, but it is an honor and an opportunity. It is not a burden. Knowing that distinction is very important. I believe that to my core.” 

With the help of crowdfunding, Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, Building Hope Summit County and Summit High School, “Feel It All” will premiere for free at Summit High School on Wednesday, May 29.

The screening of the film is open to all ages and will also feature a keynote talk hosted by Petersen that will focus on relating his story to the story of many that live in Summit County. The doors to the film screening will open at 6 p.m. with the show beginning at 7 p.m.

After the premiere in Summit County, Petersen — who has self-funded the project for the last two years — hopes to have enough donations on his Kickstarter campaign to bring the film to more mountain-town communities across the U.S.

“The goal is to get this far and wide,” Petersen said. “The No. 1 movement is to do what we are starting in Summit County and do it in mountain communities across the U.S. We have a showing in Crested Butte on May 31, and then we will try to use this model all across the West.”

To RSVP to Wednesday’s showing of “Feel it All,” visit EventBrite.com. For more information on “Feel It All” visit, Drew-Petersen.com.