Film / News
Charities host screening for suicide awareness
A group of mental health charities will be screening a short film to draw attention to student suicide on Wednesday at the Winston Theatre in University of Bristol’s Students’ Union.
The screening will be of the 2024 short film, Contact Hours.
The film is about a caretaker who discovers a student who has taken his own life is his university accommodation.
is needed now More than ever
The film will be followed by a Q&A, with panellists from charities like Talk Club, Bristol Mind and Bristol Womankind, as well as Contact Hours’ director Harry Richards and scriptwriter Rufus Love.
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Fay Hawkins, a charity worker at Bristol Womankind who is helping to host the event, said: “Bristol felt important because a lot of the people who helped make the film are based in Bristol.
She said there are “lots of passionate people within universities working to best support students.”
But admits “it’s a matter of funding and making sure there are sufficient wellbeing provisions to suitably support diverse groups of students.”
“I think universities need to be involving students in conversations [about suicide] because at the end of the day it’s students that know best.”
The event will be hosted at the University of Bristol’s Students’ Union – photo: Amelia Shaw
A spokesperson for the University of Bristol said: “We care deeply about all our students and staff which is why the mental health and wellbeing of our community is at the heart of decision making across the University.
“This includes the provision of appropriate, accessible services and interventions.
“We continue to develop and improve our services to support those who need help.”
The film, Hawkins told Bristol24/7, depicts a socially isolated individual, but she emphasised that the issue could affect anyone.
“It can also happen to people with very full social calendars, [they] can still be at risk of poor mental health and suicide.
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She believes that creating communities and opening conversations is crucial.
She said: “Asking someone directly whether they’re thinking about suicide, you automatically reduce the risk, because you’re showing them that it’s okay to talk about [it].
“The most important people there are students.
“I want to get people in the conversation who aren’t already there – who are on the front line and experiencing it.”
“It’s all about creating community from day one.”
Hawkins explained that screening the film is a useful way to start discussions about suicide.
“It’s the groundwork to have these conversations… [people can] watch it together.
“No one would come to a lecture about suicide.”
Her inspiration for coordinating the screening comes from volunteering: “Bristol Nightline that was a big part of my uni experience… where my passion stems from. “Taking calls, then going to the University of Bristol’s Arts and Social Sciences Library straight afterwards to write my dissertation.
“By the time I’d finished uni, I knew of several people who had ended their life by suicide.
“The best thing we can do is acknowledge, talk.
“This event is a really positive thing.”
Spokespeople from Bristol charities emphasised the importance of the film in encouraging people to seek support early.
Hope Against Suicide stressed that “suicide remains a leading cause of death among young people in the UK.”
“[The screening] creates a safe space for discussion and connection, reflecting [our] mission to prevent suicide and support those in crisis before it’s too late.”
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The Good Grief Festival also praised the screening:
“We know that stories often provide a ‘way in’ to talking about difficult topics and are really pleased that Contact Hours promises to do exactly that.”
The organisers are expecting around 150 audience members.
Tickets for the screening are free and open to all members of the public but are particularly aimed at staff and students at Bristol universities.
Main photo: Headrush Films and Blend Films
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