Yet the entertainment industry is one where the mental health struggles of those inside it are significantly higher than those of the general public.
For men in the entertainment sector – from Dieter Brummer’s tragic battle with depression, to Brad Pitt’s admission of a struggle with addiction, to the death of the seemingly irrepressible Robin Williams – these stories of struggle and loss reflect a wider problem in the entertainment industry.
Research by the Film and TV Charity found that rates of depression are higher in the entertainment industry, standing at a shocking 64%, compared to 42% in other workplaces. Rates of self harm are also greater than the general population, 24% compared to 7%.
According to the World Health Organisation: ’Every year nearly a million people take their own lives, and the number of male suicides is more than twice that of females; in some Western countries like Australia, it is three times as high.
‘In Australia, suicide is the highest cause of death for males aged between 15 and 44.’
These jarring statistics – and the personal experience of up-and-coming Director Lochie Graham – has led to the creation of a film already slated for entry to Cannes, Tribeca and Sundance short film festivals.
The short film, Breaking Point, quickly attracted industry attention and became a passion project for many Aussie film veterans ready to shine a light on men’s mental health.
Industry greats like Geoffrey Hall (Chopper), Kriv Stenders (Red Dog), Rohan Zerna (Hail, The Land), and Paul Macionis (NBC Universal, CNBC) have lent their skills and mentorship to Graham throughout the film’s creation.
The film’s premiere on January 31 was attended by leaders from both the mental health advocacy space, including Movember, and film industry.
Matchbox Films co-founder Michael McMahon, and Chair of the Melbourne International Film Festival, Teresa Zolnierkiewicz joined the star studded lineup of attendees.
Television and radio funny-man turned mental health advocate Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann hosted a Q&A session which was joined by media personality, entrepreneur, philanthropist and actor Nick Bracks.
‘I threw my support behind the premiere because it is a great opportunity to talk about men’s mental health struggles in the sector, but also much more broadly,’ said Lehmo.
Like Lehmo, Nick Bracks is an advocate for mental wellness and as author of Move your Mind, Nick has delivered thousands of seminars on building a healthy mindset.
Despite a successful career in entertainment, Nick suffered from crippling anxiety and depression for most of his life and the short film struck close to home.
‘The entertainment sector is full of passionate and talented people, a lot of creative people. Creatives provide a lot of insight into the human condition, but that can also mean there can be a greater sensitivity,’ says Bracks.
‘What film and television does is to create engaging narratives about what it is to be human, but also to open up dialogue about a different way to respond to events. A different way to be a man and to deal with struggles which we all inevitably face.’
Breaking Point was made as part of Graham’s capstone course at SAE university. The project was born of tragedy when Graham’s cousin lost his life as a result of his struggles with mental health.
The film tackles what it means to ‘man up’ in the face of grief. For Lochie, the film is a natural progression from his first film Run, which explored teenage boys’ mental health. As a university student, he never expected it to gain the traction that it has.
‘It was almost a case of the right place at the right time. It is an issue that is close to my heart, that is why I created it, but it turns out it’s a problem that is far beyond myself,’ says Lochie.
