A LIFE-CHANGING documentary will be screened in Swindon in a bid support men suffering from mental health issues.

Ben Akers, the director of the 90-minute programme Steve is on a mission to look at why men are committing suicide. He was inspired by the case of his childhood best friend Steve Yates who took his own life.

Men’s Mental Health Swindon campaigners are working with Ben and his team to raise awareness in the town. Co-founder Charlie Paradise said: “We are really pleased to be working with Ben and able show case his amazing work on this topic.

“The documentary is about positive action in memory of someone important to so many people.

“We want more men to see this and help normalize this conversation about mental health – we all need to look after it.

“The documentary is about encouraging people to talk. It’s a very positive film but also a sad story. Ben hopes that the film could save at least one life. He already got people calling him and telling him that the documentary made them think about things. I encourage family and friends to come along and watch the documentary.”

The Swindon campaign launched in May to tackle the high suicide rates among men. Figures have shown that 75 per cent of suicides in Swindon are male. Between 2015 and 2017, 46 people killed themselves and three quarters were men.

Ben, who is from Bristol, spent six months travelling across the country to get personal stories and talk to people about suicide. “We’ve been touring the film up and down the country and it’s fantastic to bring the film to Swindon,” he said. “It’s not a typical documentary – in fact it’s been described as a ‘changementary’ – a film to help people change the way they look at their mental fitness.

“Its ultimate job is to help them before they become ill. With my goal to save the next Steve, we concluded each screening with an open and frank discussion about mental health, helping to remove the stigma.”

It will be screened at Swindon Arts Centre on September 12 at 7:30pm with proceeds going to Men’s Mental Health Swindon. Book tickets at swindontheatres.co.uk or by calling the ticket office on 01 793 524 481.

To watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEp5ck-DYzI