“Contact Hours” tells the moving story of a student’s suicide

A few years ago, the writer Rufus Love was working in a theater and had a conversation with a friend. The man told him that he used to be a university supervisor but had to resign from his position after repeatedly discovering that students in their rooms who died suicide. The pain and trauma was too much to stay at work. “He told me, ‘I must have been the one knocking on the door that hadn’t opened in a long time,'” Love recalled. Independent.

This story inspired Contact hoursa searing short film written by Love and directed by Harry Richards. The film stars Kris Hitchen (as seen in Ken Loach We’re sorry we missed you) as caretaker and actor-turned-model George Osborne as his son. With quiet power, the psychological drama follows a janitor who discovers a student in their room who has taken his own life. During an argument, he is confronted and reassessed his relationship with his own son, who struggles in silence.

Between them, Love and Richards know of six young people from their cohort at the University of Edinburgh who have died by suicide. “We also both have friends across the country who are either mourning their losses or thanking their lucky stars for unfortunate events,” Love said, “so I feel like this is a really important moment to tell this story.”

The statistics are stark. One in five people will have suicidal thoughts in their life. Suicide also affected members of the film’s production team: “Many of our cast and crew members have experienced suicide in a very sad way,” Richards said, “and while we were in post-production on the film, one of our very close friends and crew members lost a famous person, who committed suicide. It reminded us of the urgent need to make this film and share it with as many people as possible as quickly as possible.”

For Love, that’s what it’s all about Contact hours is to normalize these feelings and try to “destigmatize them and remove shame.”

“It means that the fact that you have these thoughts doesn’t make you a bad person and it doesn’t mean that you’re wrong in any way,” he said. “It is an extremely common phenomenon that can be managed. The way to deal with it is to get it off your chest and let other people see your pain.”

The film’s unique perspective, from the person who discovers the student, is also important. “We wanted to give insight into how brave these people are,” Love said, “and how difficult conflict can be. We wanted to shine a light on this to thank them for their work and support them through any emotional fallout.

“Where possible, we want to initiate this conversation so that universities, colleges and other institutions can present their best solutions in terms of prevention, but also post-accident response, making sure that first responders, nearby students and the entire university culture can respond . respond in the best way possible that will keep people safe. Caring for people around “Suicide has huge significance both for the film and for us.”

Contact hours had its first exclusive show in London this week, with more events to come in the coming months. “Next year we will present the film at universities,” Richards said. They plan to show a live Q&A video to try to start life-saving conversations between students, parents and universities.

“We hope that people will leave their homes feeling hopeful,” Love said, adding that she unexpectedly found the research process and conversations with people affected by suicide, as well as front-line professionals, “life-affirming and joyful.”

“Of course this is difficult too, but in spaces where people share their struggles, the problems of their friends or family, everyone Power leave home feeling warm, full and with renewed gratitude for the sanctity of life.”

Find out more about Contact hours Here.

If you are feeling anxious or are struggling to cope, you can speak to Samaritans confidentially on 116 123 (UK & ROI), email [email protected] or visit Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.

If you live in the U.S. and you or someone you know needs mental health help right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free and confidential crisis hotline, available to anyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a hotline near you.