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Award winning filmmaker, Harry Hitchens, releases mental health film for Comic Relief
Film raises awareness of male suicide with a powerful message that talking can save lives
Comic Relief has been supporting mental health work for over 25 years and currently supports 125 organisations in the UK and across the world
Watch the film here(opens in new window)
If you’ve been affected by the issues in this film, please seek support. You can find help at CALM (Campaign against Living Miserably) on 0800 58 58 58 (5pm to midnight) or Samaritans on 116 123 (24 hours a day)
Thursday 12th August: Comic Relief and award-winning filmmaker and writer, Harry Hitchens, have teamed up to create a new short film to raise awareness of men’s mental health and male suicide – the single biggest killer of men under the age of 45 in the UK* – which have been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, in the UK and across the world.
Inspired by Comic Relief’s work to tackle mental health stigma and male suicide, Harry – a Royal Television Society and British Independent Film Award winner – has written and produced a short film that aims to show just how life-saving the simple act of talking can be.
The powerful short film begins with a recital of a poem written by Harry which explores the stigma surrounding male mental health. Viewers are shown several everyday situations from a family mealtime to conversations between friends at a pub; but in every scene, an empty seat adorns the room. This represents one of the 94 men who take their own life in the UK each week – 75% of the total suicides in the UK.**
As the film goes on, the poem’s focus shifts as it begins to explore the importance of empowering men to speak out and tackle the negative attitudes surrounding male mental health. At the same time, viewers revisit the same scenes, but this time the seats are now filled by the men who were previously missing.
Harry Hitchens, said: “It’s been a real honour to be a part of this project and to be able to help raise awareness of such an important issue. For me, it’s critical that we help people speak out and find the support they need. By working with Comic Relief – who already do such incredible work within the mental health sphere – I hope this film can bring important conversations to the forefront of our day to day lives and help stop the stigma around male mental health that can stop people speaking out and getting help."
Comic Relief has been supporting mental health work for over 25 years and is currently supporting 125 organisations in the UK and across the world that are working to ensure more people have access to quality mental health services free from stigma and discrimination.
Samir Patel, CEO of Comic Relief said: “Sadly many people face stigma or simply feel they have no one to confide in about mental health issues. Talking about our mental health is something we need to normalise so that people know they are not alone. Harry’s film is a powerful and timely reminder of this - especially when we think of the detrimental impact the pandemic has had on our well-being. At Comic Relief we’re helping thousands of people access mental health support and I’d urge anyone who is affected by Harry’s important film to reach out and speak to someone asap."
For more information visit www.comicrelief.com/creativists(opens in new window).
If you’ve been affected by the issues in this film, please seek support. You can find help at CALM (Campaign against Living Miserably) on 0800 58 58 58 (5pm to midnight) or Samaritans on 116 123 (24 hours a day).
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*Suicide is the single biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK and the cause of 18 deaths every day https://www.thecalmzone.net/about-calm/faq/(opens in new window)
**94 men take their own life in the UK each week – 75% of the total suicides in the UK https://www.thecalmzone.net/2021/04/what-it-means-to-be-a-man-today/(opens in new window)
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Jack Jones, Media Officer
j.jones@comicrelief.com
www.comicrelief.com/media-centre(opens in new window)
Out of hours: 07984 510 473
Notes to editors
About Comic Relief
Comic Relief raises money to support people living incredibly tough lives. Through humour and stories of hope, we’ve shown that people can make a massive difference. We fund hundreds of amazing organisations who are working on the ground to support the most vulnerable people and communities in society including many of those hardest hit by the coronavirus crisis. This includes vulnerable children and young people, people who are homeless or who have been forced to flee their homes, women and families at risk of domestic abuse and those struggling with existing or new mental health problems.
For information about Comic Relief and the work it carries out, please visit www.comicrelief.com(opens in new window)
Comic Relief, which is the operating name of Charity Projects, registered charity 326568 (England/Wales); SC039730 (Scotland)
About Comic Relief Creativists
The release of today’s film is part of Comic Relief’s wider Creativist campaign. The charity has teamed up with some of the country’s most talented creatives to use their distinctive style to tell the world about important issues such as mental health and homelessness, all of which have been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
