Ayrshire College welcomed staff and partners to its Kilmarnock Campus on Thursday 14 May for a special screening of Scottish film The Low Road, using its powerful themes to encourage action and open conversations around student mental health, inclusion and wellbeing.
The partner-only event brought together more than 60 organisations from education, health and community sectors to explore issues including trauma, grief, suicide prevention and recovery. Following the screening, attendees took part in discussions around how the College is continuing to embed trauma-informed and inclusive approaches across its learning environment and student support services.
Set against the backdrop of Scotland’s West Highland Way, The Low Road follows the journey of a young woman coping with the loss of a friend to suicide while confronting her own trauma and learning to speak openly about her experiences.
The event formed part of Mental Health Awareness Week 2026, which focused on taking meaningful ‘Action’ to improve wellbeing. By hosting the screening, Ayrshire College demonstrated its commitment to taking action to support positive mental health, bringing partners together, reducing stigma and creating opportunities for vital conversations around suicide prevention and student support.
Recent figures from National Records of Scotland recorded 704 probable suicide deaths across Scotland in 2024, an average of almost two deaths every day. Suicide rates remain significantly higher among men and continue to disproportionately affect people living in more deprived communities, reinforcing the importance of early intervention, partnership working and accessible support services.
Ayrshire College continues to work closely with local and national partners to create safe, inclusive environments and strengthen support for students and staff across Ayrshire.
Wendy McColl, Head of Student Experience at Ayrshire College, said:
These are challenging but essential conversations. By hosting this screening during Mental Health Awareness Week, we wanted to take meaningful action to support wellbeing, encourage open discussion and strengthen partnership working around mental health and suicide prevention. We are committed to ensuring our College is a place where wellbeing, inclusion and compassion are at the heart of everything we do, and where students feel safe to seek support.
East and South Ayrshire Suicide Prevention Leads attended the event to offer guidance and support throughout the session, further highlighting the importance of collaborative working when addressing sensitive issues surrounding mental health and suicide prevention.
More information about The Low Road can be found at: https://thelowroadmovie.com