'Patrick - A Young Traveller' Lost to be shown on BBC iPlayer in a UK first

BBC release of film about suicide among young Irish Travellers to mark World Suicide Prevention Day next Wednesday 10th September

A film about the suicide epidemic among young Irish Travellers will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer across the UK from Wednesday next week (10th September) after being broadcast on BBC One Northern Ireland.

'Patrick A Young Traveller Lost', which has won multiple prestigious awards in Ireland, highlights the suicide epidemic facing the Irish Traveller community and is told exclusively through Traveller voices. A member of the Traveller community also worked on production throughout.

The film centers on Patrick Ward, a young Irish Traveller lad who died by suicide in Ireland.

The film was broadcast in Ireland last year, but this is a first for the BBC and the UK.

President of Ireland, Micheal D Higgins, made an official statement to the Irish public encouraging them to watch the film ahead of its Irish broadcast. 

The ground-breaking documentary tells the story of 12 year old Patrick McDonagh from Dublin who died by suicide, as well as the story of Bernie Power from Kilkenny who struggled with suicide ideation - having sought help, he now works as an outreach worker in his community.

Research in Ireland shows that the Traveller suicide rate is six times higher when compared to the general population and accounts for approximately 11% of all Traveller deaths.

Campaigners say that the same suicide epidemic on a similar scale is happening in the UK, including among Romany Gypsy communities. 

The film, which has a message of both grief and a hope for a better future, features leading voices from the Traveller community including Senator Eileen Flynn and Dr. Thomas McCann.

TT News

(All images courtesy of Alleycats TV)

This article will be updated with the BBC iPlayer link to 'Patrick A Young Traveller Lost' as soon as it becomes available. The film will be available to stream for three years.