Belfast Teenagers' Anti-Suicide Film Released On DVD

A group of teenagers has made a film about suicide to help others, and has called on the government to improve services for people who are thinking of taking their own lives.

Their film YOLO (You Only Live Once) includes a drama written and acted by the group, and one group member bravely talking about her suicidal thoughts.

Its message is: talk about your feelings, help your friends and, to government: provide better services and more for young people to do.

Its DVD launch came on World Suicide Prevention Day, hours after health minister Edwin Poots said people in deprived areas of Northern Ireland were three times as likely to take their own lives.

The latest figures show that about 300 people a year take their own lives here and recent research found a link between the end of the Troubles and increasing suicide rates.

YOLO was filmed over the course of 12 weeks in and around Belfast, although it was disrupted when a friend of one of the group members committed suicide.

In fact all the young people involved have been affected by suicide, whether someone close to them took their own life or whether they have thought of it themselves.

Teenager Kelley Hornby introduced the film on behalf of the group at a screening yesterday.

She said: "There is still very little support and if there is, we don't see it. We feel that suicide is still a stigmatised problem."

Children's Commissioner Patricia Lewsley-Mooney congratulated the young people involved and echoed their call for improved services.

Teachers and youth workers who want to get a copy of the DVD and accompanying resource pack should email janette.mcknight@quakerservice.com with the name of their youth group or class.

(NE)