Watch: Polarised – A short film on LGBTQ+ living with mental health issues
September 24, 2015 /LGBT News/ The LGBTQ+ community is disproportionately affected by mental illness. A study recently showed that LGBTQ+ people are 10 times more likely to attempt suicide at any given point in their lifetimes. LGBTQ+ people are 3 times more likely to experience anxiety disorders than heterosexuals, and up to 6 times more likely to suffer from depression.
The Polarised Project released this week a short film examining the impact of austerity on LGBTQ+ mental health in London. Including interviews, poetry and live action it seeks to tell the stories of the thousands of young LGBTQ people suffering with ill mental health and bearing the brunt of cuts to funding.
The short film is based on the poem ‘Polarised’ by Executive Producer Charlie Smoke, from which the Project draws its name.
The Polarised Project will be releasing a full feature length documentary in August 2016, which will focus on the stories of those fighting homophobia, welfare cuts and mental illness on the fringes of the mainstream LGBT community.
TRIGGER WARNING:
Polarised touches on subjects that some people may find triggering. The short film that we will be screening this evening contains graphic descriptions of rape and frank discussions of mental health issues and disorders including suicide, eating disorders and depression. There are some explicit scenes of self-harm and drug use.
The short film (running time approx. 24 minutes) can be viewed here:
