Play exploring mental health to tour around Hampshire

Titled Let’s Talk About Philip, the production is written and performed by Helen Wood and Gregor Hunt. It shares the personal experience of losing a brother to suicide, as well as the many surrounding issues. It is currently touring the UK and has already been performed at Brighton Fringe.

Hampshire Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) is running several events across the county throughout the summer and autumn, where the play will be performed and followed up with workshops led by Hampshire CAMHS clinicians.

Let's Talk About Philip creators Helen Wood and Gregor Hunt (Image: Hampshire CAMHS)The event is the latest to focus on suicide prevention, following the installation of a giant, rotating sand timer outside of several locations in Hampshire over the last year to reflect the number of times a young person loses their life to suicide.

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Helen Dove, innovations and participation lead at Hampshire CAMHS, said: “Suicide is a subject which is really important to talk about. The success of the sand timer tour has led to a lot more conversations being started this year.

“Let's Talk About Philip has been really well received in the schools it has been performed in so far. We've had feedback about how the issue of suicide was sensitively covered and potentially triggering situations were handled in such a manner that, even when it became more in depth, you never felt uneasy.”

The play will be performed at Brighton Hill Community College, Basingstoke, on October 10, Theatre Royal Winchester on October 11 and at the Ashcroft Art Centre in Fareham on October 19, with a mix of school and public viewings. The event is suitable for young people in years 10, 11 and sixth form.

Tickets cost £3 and can be purchased from the Hampshire CAMHS website.