A charity from Barnsley tackling mental health and suicide has surpassed £1,000 in its crowdfunding effort to make a new short film to get people talking.

The short film from Suicide Sucks will be based on an idea from American author Simon Sinek, where in an interview he talked about how important it is to pick up on times when your friends may be reaching out for help.

From this came the idea of an ‘eight minutes mate’, encouraging the question “have you got eight minutes?” sent to a friend to open dialogue and create a moment of connection, leading to better help from friends over misinterpreted messages.

Mick Rowe, the creator the group and the project, lost her brother James to suicide in 1996 when he was just 27.

Using her own experiences and the ideas of Mr Sinek, she created the idea of the short film to spread awareness of this idea and make it easier for friends to seek help in tough times.

Mrs Rowe said: “There’s no confusion, so you stop what you’re doing and you make that call.

“You hold that space and you listen without fixing.”

This is another thing that the charity and the project is attempting to bridge the gap of, not problem solving but just being there for someone and letting them talk.

Speaking to how important it is to just listen and not solve, Mrs Rowe said: “The only way that someone feels heard and validated is to listen.”

With 60 supporters backing the project, Ms Rowe is delighted with what is “a massive achievement, and I am so grateful for all the people that have donated.”

Mrs Rowe and the charity are aiming for £8000 to get the project underway, and whilst the target is still to be reached, the first thousand is a major milestone.

As £1000 has been contributed, Mrs Rowe will have to do a challenge which “is yet to be decided.”

Monetary contributions are not the only way to get involved with the project, with Mrs Rowe asking for help through other means, asking people to talk about and share the project to as many people as possible.

She said: “It’s about coming together to push that very simple fact that could help.”

You can support the fundraiser here – https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/have-you-got-8-minutes

You can find out more about the charity here – https://www.suicidesucks.co.uk/about