A Grantham family takes centre stage in a poignant new film called Evelyn, released today, which tells the story of their daughter’s suicide just before her sixteenth birthday.
Narrated by her mum Jenni, the film explores the devastating impact of youth suicide on families. The film, created by charity CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) in partnership with ITV and the Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation.
Jack and Jenni Swift, Evelyn’s parents, said: “Our daughter Evelyn took her own life when she was just 15 years old. A month before her sixteenth birthday. We miss her so much.
“We hope this film encourages parents and carers, teachers, coaches, health professionals – anyone really – to understand the sheer scale of this issue and how anyone can be affected. And we hope it encourages people to arm themselves with the skills and tools they need to properly support a young person.
“Parents and carers especially need skills and knowledge to support their young people. It’s really important people don’t shy away from using the word suicide. It can be really scary – but we need to use the word suicide confidently to enable more open conversations.”
A Missed Birthdays campaign last September was made possible by funding from the Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation. Tarsem Dhaliwal, Group Chief Exec of Iceland Foods and Trustee of Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation said: “Youth suicide is an urgent crisis, and we’re proud to support CALM’s powerful campaign to raise awareness and provide practical tools that can save lives.
“At Iceland, we’re deeply committed to the communities we serve, and we believe it’s crucial to help trusted adults feel confident in having those vital conversations with young people. Talking about suicide can feel difficult, but it’s only by addressing it directly that we can start to make a difference. CALM’s C.A.R.E. Kit is an invaluable resource, and we encourage everyone to take the time to familiarise themselves with it. Together, we can help ensure young people feel supported and know they’re not alone.”
The CALM C.A.R.E. Kit is available free at thecalmzone.net
