Thankyou for all your comments.
Since my last post we have made some progress with our film that I would like to share with you.
We have been in touch with a number of bereavement agencies such as SOBS, Papyrus, WAY, The Compassionate Friends, and CRUSE. We have spoken to a number of families who have been bereaved by a suicide and have been over whelmed by the support we have had for our project.
Many of the people we have spoken to feel that the subject of suicide needs to be discussed openly. It is still very much a taboo subject and it is our hope that by making a film that looks at suicide in a respectful and sensitive way we will go some way towards changing this.
We feel that mental health issues are important and whilst the media at large often handles the subject badly, our company prides itself on doing things differently. We won a Mental Health Award for our film A-Z of your Health that told the stories of young people with mental illness. As a company we always put our contributors needs before our own and I would be happy to send out our company profile to anyone interested in reading it.
We have been in touch with the RMT who have been supportive of what we are trying to achieve and are looking into finding us drivers who can contribute to a discussion about suicide on the tubes/trains. We feel it is essential to hear this voice as the effects of a suicide do not stop with the bereaved family and friends, as you well know. The mental health of a driver after someone has jumped in front of their train is of great importance to this discussion also.
We appreciate that this is not an easy ask and we understand that there is the risk of upsetting people when discussing such a sensitive subject. However, our research is all pointing to the need to TALK about this subject if only to stop one single person from taking their life. Suicide is the second biggest killer in the UK. Every 85 minutes someone in the UK dies by suicide, leaving behind an average of six people who will suffer intense grief. 75% of these people are not in touch with Mental Health support when they could be. Three quarters of all suicide deaths involve males, particularly between the ages of 16 and 24. Our film wants to reach these people and the benefits of making a film about suicide, we believe, must surely outway the risks.
We are looking for drivers of any age, any background, retired or active it doesnt matter, we are just very keen to talk to anyone who has been affected by a suicide on the lines. All contact will be treated in complete confidence and there is no pressure to be involved in the filming. We just want to speak to you. This film is important and we would much rather make it with your support rather than without it.
Many thanks,
Lucy Bennett/Emily Ibbitson
01273 648 380
