Escapade Media Secures Rights for Mental Health Doc

Escapade Media has acquired rights for the new factual title Osher Günsberg: A Matter of Life and Death from Sydney-based Lune Media.

The documentary tackles the global issues of mental health and suicide with a personal journey, aiming to start a conversation and look at the latest solutions on offer. Produced by SBS and Screen Australia, in association with Screen NSW and directed by Jodi Boylan, Osher Günsberg: A Matter of Life and Death will bow on SBS on September 19.

The SBS documentary will provide a comprehensive portrait of suicide in Australia today. Through the lens of Günsberg’s own mental health experience, he’ll investigate why suicide rates remain high in Australia and feature what is being done to mitigate the problem.

Leonie Lowe, Lune Media executive producer, said: “Millions of Australians, whatever their background, are impacted by issues surrounding mental health, mental illness and suicide—either directly or through the experiences of friends and loved ones. Making this documentary, we’ve had the privilege of meeting those working at the frontline of suicide prevention in Australia, as well as others who’ve been personally affected, including survivors and family members. By bravely sharing their stories, they’ve helped us put a face to the issues that affect so many of us. And by challenging the stigma associated with mental health and mental illness, and highlighting the solutions that are out there, we hope we might be able to inspire many others to be brave and ask for the help they need.”

Günsberg added: “Suicide is a very real and prevalent problem in our community, and I know firsthand what it’s like to experience suicidal ideation. Two profound symptoms of mental illness are that it can make you feel like you’re the only person this is happening to, and it’s going to feel this bad forever. Both of those things are false, and in this film, we show that every day in Australia, there are people working tirelessly to try and prevent suicide, and it’s so important to know that there is help out there, and there are ways forward. I really hope that with this SBS documentary, we are able to not only offer hope to those suffering and show how much help is available—but to also help those who love someone that is struggling to understand just what happens when your brain starts to work in unhelpful ways. We want to encourage honest conversations between friends, family and colleagues. At the very least, we need to recognize Australia’s suicide crisis, because you cannot fix a problem if you don’t acknowledge it exists.”

Natalie Lawley, managing director of Escapade Media, commented: “This is a must-see documentary. Osher Günsberg’s bravery is significant, using his own story to speak to this incredibly important topic and document some of the groundbreaking scientific techniques on offer. This is a global story of reckoning and hope.”