Revolving Door A Play about Suicide. HEARTH Centre Health, Education and the Humanities with Art at Heart

Background Commissioned 2002 Suicide Prevention conference 2003 Based on research and real stories

Martin’s story

Martin’s story 1 Details: Nineteen at start of play Single parent family Close to his Mum School refuser at six years old Talented musician. Abandons music after setback with band Won’t talk about distressing things

Martin’s story 2 Details: Unemployed Goes to GP. She doesn’t pick up his suicidal tendencies. Isolated and relies on the internet for interaction Obsessive about the State of the World

Martin’s story 3. Details: Gets his own flat Suggests suicide pact with his Mum on Xmas Eve She sections him Put under “obs” in hospital “ Escapes from hospital” Found dead 5 days later

Structure of the play Coroner’s court Martin is the coroner of his own hearing. Calls witnesses from his life. Rewinds scenes. Revolving Door is the motif for going back in time to his childhood. No realistic representation of the suicidal act

Questions raised by the play Is Martin mentally ill? Or is he just an intense young man? How can society help Martin? How can professionals help Martin? Could this suicide have been prevented?

Northern Ireland Jan/Feb 2007 Commissioned by Rethink Part of an anti stigma campaign in Northern Ireland Significant increase in reported deaths by suicide in NI in the last 3 years Young males: Highest group.

New audience We usually target older audiences- Higher Education and Professionals Northern Ireland audience: Schools Young offenders Women prisoners

Coverage Over 2000 people in 10 days 14 shows 8 schools groups Each schools group comprised average of 200 people Evening shows to community and mental health groups Return tour to Derry and Western Board in April 07 Further 1000 school pupils

Development of the play for N. I. Tour  Additional character, Alan:  Childhood friend  Bullying behaviour:  Childhood and adult bullying  Function of character; To address the responsibility of friends  No adaptation to NI situation requested by commissioners

Development of the play for N. I. Tour  Development of the interactive component:  Martin, as coroner, frames audience as jury  The mother, friend and GP are hot seated by the audience  How could they have supported Martin more?  Forum Theatre technique used to  Replay scene between Alan and Martin

Evaluation: Hearth Did the play help you to think about how suicide can be prevented? Very well : 84% Was the interactive debate effective? Very effective: 60% Comments on the methodology: Boal’s way of working- fantastic to watch and be a part of, good follow up to assist training

Evaluation: Rethink Did the play help you to think any differently about mental health problems? 75% said Yes. Key take home message: It’s important to talk to people about your problems Rethink’s executive summary : The most successful specific activity of the campaign was Revolving Door. Short listed for a National Media Award.

Observations on audience reaction  Blaming of the mother:  You didn’t let him breathe.  You’re trying to make him normal  You’re not warm enough  You should have told him why his Dad left  Caesarian section might have been a factor in subsequent suicide.  No discussion at all of the Post Conflict situation in NI.  Mature discussion with the GP re confidentiality and explicit discussion of suicide

Observations on audience reaction  Greater interest in religious themes of the play in Northern Ireland:  The mother didn’t swear on the bible in court  He should have seen his priest  “You gave the church a bit of a pasting”, comment by a priest.  Some Take-home messages of the play  It is easier for a camel to pass through the Eye of a Needle than for a rich man etc. ???  It was his own fault and no-one else’s  Don’t go messing about in Revolving Doors