Black Light Unveiled: Choose Life
Released in 2025 on Channel 9, TELUS Optik TV
Black Light Unveiled: Choose Life is a documentary about mental health and suicide awareness, funded by TELUS StoryHive and released in 2025 on Channel 9, TELUS Optik TV. I am the lead producer, and the film moves between Canada and Kenya because the silence around this subject does too.
I made it because I survived something I had no language for at the time, and because the conversation we are handed about suicide tends to arrive either too late or too carefully. The film follows people who chose life and asks what actually made the difference.
Private screenings are available. I bring the film to organisations, schools, faith communities and community groups, and I stay afterwards to open up the conversation about mental health. These sessions follow safe-messaging practice, and I will always agree the boundaries with you in advance, especially where young people are in the room.
Mental Health & The Black Community
Statistics show that only 38% of the Black Community use mental health services compared to 50% of the white population. This disparity highlights the need to address the stigma and isolation that prevent many from seeking help. By normalizing the conversation around mental health and providing supportive resources, we can prevent the loss of dreams and lives to suicide and addiction.
Shedding Light on Mental Health Through Real Stories of Hope and Resilience
In this documentary, I share my personal experiences and journey, with the hope that it will enlighten, empower, and inspire my community in Kamloops and beyond. The documentary delves into the discrimination I faced and learned to navigate, and how I now work to create allyship to deepen cultural understanding and relationships among communities. It also addresses struggles with loneliness, lack of community, mental health challenges, and navigating an oppressive work culture. My story intertwines with a community of experts, friends, and family who speak on mental health and suicide prevention, providing invaluable insights and perspectives through intimate interviews.
The primary goal of “Black Light Unveiled: Choose Life” is to shed light on the various facets of mental health, reduce stigma, and encourage open conversations surrounding this crucial topic. By sharing stories and experiences, we can contribute to a more compassionate and understanding society, making a lasting difference in mental health awareness and suicide prevention for Kenyans abroad, in Kenya, and around the world.
