THE subject matter of new short film Fathom sparked a dialogue about mental health with the cast and crew and will soon screen to audiences for Mental Health Week next month.
Made by WAAPA and ECU Screen Academy graduates, the film follows the story of a young father and musician struggling with depression.
Director and producer Dawn Jackson said the film dealt with themes such as suicide but provided a platform for positive discussion.
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READ NOW“Fathom explores the human experience depression is and gives hope through positive images which makes it an ideal project to stimulate conversation,” she said.
“There has been a wave of recent press about depression and suicide and a call for more open conversation to help remove the stigma that exists around mental health.
“Through (main character) Luke’s journey on screen, we may feel for a moment how it feels for someone living with depression.”
Not-for-profit organisation for suicide prevention Youth Focus will screen the film as part of Mental Health Week which runs from October 7-14.
Ms Jackson said Fathom was a project she and writer and lead actor Tim Monley had worked on over two years.
“We started to realise that people gravitated to this project because they were really passionate about doing something meaningful,” she said.
“It wasn’t like we all sat around wanting to make a film about mental health but it was this really beautiful unravelling for us; it’s great that it’s now going to a public forum.
Youth Focus community engagement general manager Chris Harris said suicide had become the most prevalent “silent killer” of young people in Australia.
To register for tickers to the free screenings visit: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/fathom-mental-health-week-film-screening-education-session-tickets-37990560790.
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