The multi-award winning documentary ‘Solstice’, about survivors of suicide, including interviews with local people who have been impacted by tragedy, will screen in Corryong next week.
The inspiration for the film had its genesis with the Winter Solstice event that happens in Albury for survivors of suicide and those struggling with their mental ill health.
When 15 year-old Mary Baker took her own life after a three year battle with a serious mental illness the stigma and silence that surrounds suicide compounded her family’s grief and isolation.
‘Solstice’ documents the extraordinary story of Mary’s parents, Annette and Stuart, as this personal tragedy propelled them into the public space to confront the challenges of mental illness and help to end the heartbreaking loneliness of those left behind when a person dies by suicide.
However, the story expanded beyond there and includes the loss of several young men to suicide following the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires in the Upper Murray.
The Bakers initially reached out to anyone who would help them in their mission to create the change that may have saved their daughter.
“The film began as a story of one regional Australian family who had lost their daughter to suicide but quickly became a document bearing witness to the need for urgent and radical change in mental health support as more and more survivors of suicide added their voice,” said ‘Solstice’ director, Helen Newman.
“Traversing a mental health system that is increasingly stretched beyond capacity and unable to respond to crisis leaves families also surviving the grief of suicide,” the Albury-base film maker added.
Her documentaries have screened on ABC TV, ABC iview, NITV and at a range of national and international film festivals. She co-directed the feature documentary ‘Anthem’ which went on to win Best Australian Documentary at ACMI Real Life International Documentary Festival, 2006.
Underpinning the personal stories in ‘Solstice’ are the voices of well-respected commentators Professor Patrick McGarry and Sir Graham Thornicroft, both personal friends of the Bakers and outspoken advocates for greater investment, resources and support for people struggling with mental illness.
Through intimate interviews and archival footage ‘Solstice’ draws together the threads of a world always shadowed by grief yet filled to the brim with determination and surprising hope.
This film is a bold, grassroots voice raised to unite, challenge and change how we respond to our collective mental health crisis now and into the future,” Ms Newman said.
“There are so many elements that feed into the mental health crisis we are facing. The further I went the more I found myself enmeshed in multiple threads that needed to be untangled.
“These include the historical shame and stigma that accompanies mental illness and suicide; the resultant disparity in funding for mental health services compared to physical health services; the impact and cost of collective trauma across communities, cultures and nations; and the latest curve ball, a global pandemic.
“The challenge was to ensure the voices of survivors were clearly heard within the context of these myriad forces.
“Thank you to every person who has trusted us to share their story and every individual and organisation who invested in the vision,” Ms Newman said.
“We are hoping that the film will be well supported in the lead up to this year’s Corryong Spirit, which is based on the Winter Solstice event.
The film will screen at Upper Murray Pizza Cafè on Friday June 16th (6.30pm for a 7pm screening).
Bookings can be made online at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/solstice-documentary-screening-tickets-646827136377 or phone Upper Murray Pizza on 02 6076 1791.
The Corryong Spirit event will be held on Friday August 11 at the Attree Centre.
This article appeared in the Corryong Courier, 8 June 2023.
