Three Quarters

SYNOPSIS: In Australia, more than three quarters of suicides are males. Many are in crisis but support is not reaching them. A group of men living in the Queensland town of Warwick want to know why. 

Darren is a middle-aged man who occasionally struggles with his own mental health and communication. He wants to know more about some of the issues that men face, why suicide is so prevalent for men in the region and how he can be part of creating better access to useful and locally relevant support.

The fact that his family has lived-experience of suicide and his own son attempted to take his life recently only fuels him further and makes it personal.

Nathan and Aaron, both First Nations men, are also searching for answers for why the local Aboriginal community, including members of their family, struggle so much with suicide. Through conversations with Indigenous service providers, local men, their families, professionals and each other, they’re seeking answers and ideas for how they can support men who are struggling with their mental health and ways to seek help. 

Tired of blaming the system but aware of its shortcomings, Darren, Nathan and Aaron hope people can  work together to find new ways to stop the senseless loss of life in Warwick.

Currently in production, Three Quarters portrays genuine investigations by a group of men in a small regional community to find effective local responses to lower suicide rates. The film emphasises the significance of community-driven solutions, the importance of finding ways to create open dialogue, and the need to address systemic issues in approaches to mental health support. Three Quarters intends to be a powerful documentary that sheds light on a pressing issue in the town of Warwick through genuine storyteller-led filmmaking. By following Darren, Nathan, Grant and Aaron, the film offers a personal exploration of the factors contributing to high suicide rates among local men. Through the men’s conversations with other men in the community, the documentary not only seeks to portray a range of useful approaches but also aims to inspire other communities to take action and find locally-driven and culturally accessible approaches to supporting one another in times of crisis. Three Quarters is supported by community, mental health and peak body agencies.

Three Quarters offers an important contribution to an often-avoided conversation about suicide and how we can prevent it, particularly in regional towns where unique and diverse circumstances affect men. Through a story-driven approach, the film aims to help the audience feel empathy and connectedness with the main characters. Through intimate interviews and personal stories, viewers will deeply understand some of the contributing factors to suicide through lived struggles faced by men in Warwick. The raw honesty and emotional depth of the documentary aims to leave a lasting impression, inspiring viewers to reflect on their own communities, the importance of mental health support and balance between community-led and institutional support structures and resourcing.

The film is also being delivered through a social impact model where we actively work to support community-led organising and networking to further strengthen the work that is happening on the ground.

As mentioned, we're currently in production and have been filming since September 2024. We anticipate filming to be completed in May 2025.

A feature documentary being filmed in Warwick, Queensland

A project by Steph Vajda