BBC 'Breaks The Silence' On Suicide

A Scottish and Northern Ireland-based independent production company has announced the commission of Breaking the Silence for BBC NI.

Tern Belfast produced the one-hour documentary Breaking the Silence, looking at the subject of suicide while examining the human cost on the family and friends left behind and is a quietly powerful film which uses the testimony of family and friends to look at the traumatic aftermath of suicide.

Each story is built on powerful personal testimony allowing interviewees the opportunity to talk about their own painful stories. The film also shows the slow process of healing by those left behind.

Breaking the Silence will challenge audiences to consider why such a potent stigma still surrounds suicide, and follows the important work being done by the Niamh Louise Foundation: a charity that works with similarly affected individuals to prevent further deaths by suicide.

Carla McCabe, Production Manager at Tern Television said: "Like most, the families in the film never believed suicide would come knocking on their door. Death by suicide is a different type of grief as there are no answers.

"These families opened up to us because they would do anything to try and prevent any other family from living the same nightmare. I believe this is a very powerful film and one that I am very proud to have been involved in."

David Strachan, Executive Producer at Tern Television added: "Carla has done an extraordinary job in winning the trust of a community devastated by their incredibly sad experience.

"This film, by Brendan Byrne, will raise awareness of the issue across the whole of Northern Ireland and we hope will help to save other families from the trauma these families are living with daily."

(BMcN/BMcc)