Play says it’s time to talk about suicide

GEELONG’S Sacred Heart College will next week host a free play and workshop exploring the topic of teenage suicide.

Not-for-profit organisation The Parents Guides is presenting Suicide: It’s Time We Talked, a new and challenging production that combines a play about youth suicide with a panel of mental health experts which will bring people together in local communities.

The 35-minute play addresses youth suicide in the online era and how young people can reach breaking point without their parents realising.

Written by noted Australian actor and playwright Alan Hopgood, the play will be followed by a 30-minute Q&A session and an expert panel.

The idea is for teenagers, young adults, parents and carers to attend Suicide: It’s Time We Talked together, as well as educators and health professionals that work with young people.

Hopgood said he had often been asked to write a play about suicide, but “political correctness has stifled me”.

“You’re not supposed to discuss it, you’re not supposed to say how you do it for fear of copycats, you’re not supposed to say ‘commit suicide’ as that suggests a criminal offence… so how do you write about it? But whatever we do, we must find a way to talk about it.”

He said there were 405 recorded suicides by people aged 15 and 24 in Australia in 2015.

Suicide: It’s Time We Talked will be held at Sacred Heart College, Retreat Road, Newtown on Friday, March 29 from 6.30-9.30pm.

Bookings are essential. Tickets are available through Eventbrite.com.