Heirlooms is a short film breaking the silence around suicide bereavement, telling the story of the legacy a father's death by suicide leaves for the family who carry it. Its origin is personal: in 2010, at just 22 years old, Londoner Will Castle lost his father, Paul, to suicide. The aftermath was a blur of grief, financial chaos, and a crushing silence. For years, Will buried the pain, trying to move on. But grief doesn't vanish, it waits.
A decade later, during the 2020 lockdown, Will grew a moustache for Movember, an annual event in November that raises awareness of men's health issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer and suicide in men. That small act led him to share his story publicly for the first time. The response was overwhelming: he became Movember's top UK fundraiser that year, raising over £16,000, and later became an ambassador, eventually raising more than £25,000 for suicide prevention causes. PepTalk has written more on the impact of Movember on men's mental health.
But Will wanted to do more than raise money. He wanted to change the conversation around suicide bereavement. So he turned to film.
Heirlooms: A Short Film with a Long Reach
Partnering with director Luke Brookner and co-writers Alex Horlock and Eytan Smith, Will created Heirlooms, a seven-minute short film exploring the generational impact of suicide. The film stars Harry Cadby and follows a man grappling with the legacy of his father's suicide, illustrating how grief can resurface during life's milestones, becoming a parent, attending a football match, or other shared experiences.
The film was produced in collaboration with Suicide&Co, a UK charity supporting those bereaved by suicide. It premiered on February 12, 2025, at The Curzon cinema in Soho, London. West Ham United FC shared the film across their social media platforms, helping it reach a reported one million-plus views. Heirlooms was also recognised as The Drum's "Ad of the Day" on February 13, 2025.
A Call to Action: Break the Silence
Heirlooms is a call to break the silence surrounding suicide bereavement. Research suggests that in the UK, several hundred thousand people are newly bereaved by suicide each year, and that around 1 in 10 of those bereaved by suicide will attempt to take their own life, with more than one in three experiencing suicidal thoughts.
By sharing his story and creating Heirlooms, Will aims to provide hope and encourage those struggling with suicide loss to seek support. As he says, "If I can save one life with the work I do, it will make it all worthwhile."
Bringing This Conversation Into Your Organisation
Films like Heirlooms open a door. For workplaces that want to keep it open, with a genuine, well-facilitated conversation about grief, men's mental health and suicide prevention, PepTalk works with speakers in this space.
Justin "JC" Coghlan, co-founder of Movember, the same campaign that first gave Will Castle a platform to speak publicly, has helped raise over $1 billion for men's mental health since 2003 and now speaks to organisations on building open cultures around men's health.
Dr Carolyne Keenan, a registered counselling psychologist, speaks on workplace wellbeing, emotional intelligence and resilience, translating clinical, evidence-based insight into practical strategies for teams. She also features in PepTalk's separate journal piece on making space for grief.
Poorna Bell, journalist, author and mental health advocate, works with organisations including Spotify, Meta and the NHS to build mental resilience strategies and create genuinely inclusive environments.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please reach out. In the UK, you can contact Samaritans at 116 123. In the US, call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Heirlooms about?
Heirlooms is a seven-minute short film about the generational impact of a father's death by suicide, following how grief can resurface at life's milestones, becoming a parent, a football match, or other shared moments.
Is Heirlooms based on a true story?
The film was created by Will Castle, who lost his father, Paul, to suicide in 2010, and is inspired by his own experience of suicide bereavement, though the story itself is a fictionalised drama rather than a direct retelling.
Amber is VP of Talent & Marketing. She has 20 years of international experience in the creative industries, including as a copywriter and Head of Customer Experience in the music industry, using storytelling to drive behaviour change. Amber holds an MA in Digital Management and an MSc in Organisational Psychology and is always looking for inspiration.
Found this useful?
Tell us about your event and we'll match you with the right person for your audience.
