Feature Documentary (2026)
CHASING SILENCE
Teenagers are screaming on the inside
and parents are hearing it too late.
Australia has one of the highest rates of eating disorders in the world.
1.1 million Australians live with an eating disorder. 1 in 3 teens show signs, 1 in 4 new cases are boys.
1 in 10 teenagers self-harm each year. 26% of girls and 9% of boys by 17. Emergency visits up 47%.
Suicide is the leading cause of death for Australians aged 5–17. 65% of repeat self-harmers attempt suicide.
Over 40% of Year 12 students show anxiety or depression. 75% of mental health conditions begin before 25.
Help Us Make This Film.
Help Us Break The Silence.
Teenagers are screaming on the inside. Parents are hearing it too late.
Chasing Silence is for parents fighting to keep their kids alive. It tells the stories most people look away from, making them impossible to ignore.
We need your help to make it, so we can spark the national conversation that saves lives.
ALL DONATIONS OVER $2 ARE
FULLY TAX DEDUCTIBLE
thanks to The Australian Cultural Fund.
Everyone who backs this film will be thanked in the credits.
Every tax deductible
DONATION helps!
$50 Supports travel to reach subjects and capture untold stories
$200 towards a mental health co-ordinator supporting cast and crew before, during and after filming.
$500 Supports crew wages on shoot days: cameraman, audio, lighting and production.
$1,000 Helps film a day a family fighting to keep their kid alive.
$5,000+ Fuels the filming a chapter, from lived experience to expert insights.
If donating is out of reach, you can still make an impact by spreading the word:
Australia has the highest rate of eating disorders in the world, and it’s getting worse. Something is breaking inside Australian homes, and most parents never see it coming. Behind “I’m fine” is a teenager who’s not okay. Starving themselves, hurting themselves, or going completely silent. For them, pain isn’t the problem. It’s the only way to feel anything at all.
Chasing Silence is a raw, unfiltered documentary from a parents’ view… It asks every parent: if your child needed help right now, would they feel safe enough to ask you?
These stories aren’t easy to hear, but they’re real. And they’re happening everywhere. We don’t know exactly how to stop it. But we know what happens if we don’t try. More young people will die. Can you live with that?
“This film isn’t for teenagers, it’s for parents and the people who care for them every day. Built on real stories and backed by clinical evidence, it’s about helping them spot the signs early and act before silence turns to tragedy.”
If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out for support.
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Butterfly Foundation:
1800 33 4673
You are not alone. These services are here to help.