In Australia, 5 men a day die as a result of suicide.

That’s 5 men a day too many.

September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) and the Movember Foundation is using the day and its global reach to give male suicide the urgent attention it deserves.

Cummins&Partners has created the film, Suicide Notes Talk Too Late, to help it to do that.

Owen Sharp, Movember Foundation chief executive officer, explained, “We wanted to create a powerful piece of content that would ignite important conversation about suicide, the complex issues that surround it and what everyone can do to address it.  Conversations that we hope will save lives and prevent the far-reaching and painful consequences for the families, friends and communities of the men tragically lost every day. It’s an uncomfortable conversation, but it’s one that needs to be had, here in Australia and around the world.”

The idea behind the video is to stop men from toughing it out. By showing men sharing their own personal experience with suicide in the video, it opens the door for them to share their own feelings rather than struggle alone. There’s a nice twist in the film that amplifies its encouragement. The video’s message s simple, “Men, let’s talk when things get tough.”

The Foundation is asking people to help grow the conversation globally this year on WSPD by sharing the video through their social networks and channels, knowing that without forcing conversation around the issue of suicide, and showing a way that can help, the issue will remain and unspoken crisis.

Jim Ingram, executive creative director at Cummins&Partners commented, “Our agency has proudly taken steps into the complex world of mental health, and we are trying to do our bit to alleviate the mental health struggles many Australian’s have.  For too many men, the first (and often only) time they really open up about how they are feeling, is in a suicide note. We need to help men start talking well before it ever comes to this.”

This campaign is part of the Movember Foundation’s suicide prevention strategic approach – encouraging men to reach out, particularly during times of change and when things get tough, and to take action sooner rather than later to reduce the risk of suicide.

Credits:

Agency: Cummins&Partners

Creative Contributors: Adam Slater, Regina Stroombergen, James Bennet, Jim Ingram & Ben Couzens, Adam Ferrier, Nikia Shepherd, Tom Ward, Emma Fox, Jess Thompson & Graeme Phillips

Production Company: Mr Smith

Producer: Helene Nicol

Director: Craig MacLean

Stills photography: Craig MacLean

DoPs: Matt Toll & Earle Dresner

Editor: Seth Lockwood

Post production: Method Studios

Sound: Rodney Lowe

Sound studio: Production Alley

Music: Bryony Marks

Camera gear: Panavision Asia – Greg Lloyd

Client: Movember Foundation (Jeremy Macvean & Juliette Smith)

And additional help from: Grant Wilson, Terry Kelly, Rick McMullen, Fleet Lighting & Brendon Guthrie