Let's Save Someone ... Next Week

I saw something on the Channel 10 show Studio 10, last Friday 18 August 2017, that really summed things up for me. No, I didn't turn on Studio 10, I arrived home from dropping the kids off at school and the television was on Channel 10 from the night before. Anyway, now that's cleared up, it was a horrible piece of writing, production, and direction in an attempt to be credible and "tackle the big issues". It went as follows:

Ita: "Across Australia men are killing themselves at an alarming rate."

Sarah Harris: "It's a topic no-one wants to talk about, but we think it's time to tackle this very important issue."

Ita: "In a special edition of Studio 10, the families left behind and survivors give rare insight that might just save a life ... next week."

Are you @#$%ing kidding me?!! I was drawn in. This is a very big issue. This is great ... what? Next week? NEXT WEEK, we'll discuss something that "might just save a life"? They then went on with some token platitudes, in their most sombre tones before Sarah Harris declared, "... in the meantime, it's time for our Morning Quickie ...".

Now, I understand the need for a show to advertise, especially with sensitive, topical issues. Of course, they want as many people to watch as possible, but this has to be one of the most clumsy attempts to do so I've ever witnessed. My morbid mind ran wild! I pictured a suicidal man, standing upon a chair, ropy instrument of death in his shaking hand. But wait, what's this? Words from the television somehow trigger his subconscious self-protective mechanisms and cut through his suicidal malaise, " ... men are killing themselves at an alarming rate." He turns towards the television. I can't believe it's on Studio Ten, he thinks, must've been left on Channel 10 last night. He shakes his attention back to the show. "It's a topic no-one wants to talk about ... time to tackle this very important issue ... families left behind ... survivors give rare insight that might just save a life ...". A little spark inside. Here I stand, and this comes on the tv? He almost forgets where he's standing, what he's contemplating, "... next week."

C'mon Channel Ten. I hope you do a better job when you actually discuss it ... this week.  If anybody reading this is feeling down, out of sync, like there's no hope, pick up the phone and call a friend, family member or a helpline. Give them a chance to show they care. Communicate. There is light, there is hope. Sometimes you just need help to dig your way out.