Still

VANCOUVER PREMIERE!  A poignant, poetic documentary about lives cut short and hope rediscovered, Still tells the stories of several families coping with the aftermath of suicide. One family lost their son Freek ten years ago. In his early 20s when he took his own life, he was a golden boy with an uncanny resemblance to a young Prince William. Another family lost their daughter Eva only a year before filming began. She was only 25, and a talented photographer. All those telling their stories here experience loss in different and profound ways, but all share the same inability to understand what drove their loved ones to suicide. Some insight is provided by former Olympic swimmer and suicide survivor Stefaan. As an athlete in the prime of his life and at the top of his career, he was too ashamed to admit he was depressed, even to himself. Waking up in hospital after his suicide attempt, he is elated: he realizes he doesn’t have to pretend any more. As Stefaan looks towards the future, so too do the families who have lost loved ones. “At the beginning,” said director Nathalie Basteyns, “the film I wanted to make was about loss and grief, but it turns out to be a film about courage and surviving.” Colour, Digibeta video, in Flemish with English subtitles. 50 mins.

Post-screening discussion with Dammy Damstrom Albach. Dammy holds Master’s degrees in social work and health care leadership. She managersSAFER (Suicide Attempt Follow-up Education and Research), and also has 18 years of previous experience with the organization as a therapist. She co-chaired the B.C. Suicide Prevention, Intervention and Postvention (PIP) Initiative, and is the President of the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP).

Moderated by Dr. Harry Karlinsky, Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia.

Co-sponsored by SAFER (Suicide Attempt Follow-up Education and Research) , a service in Vancouver that provides counselling, group work, and emotional support to people who are suicidal, those concerned about them, or those bereaved by a suicide death.