Taken entirely from www.indiegogo.com/projects/1000-days
On October 16, 2014, Sangeeta Mahajan lost her only son to suicide…on that very same day, she started to write a blog: a blog she wrote every day for…1000 Days 

Single message of the film - you are not alone

Single action - For those of us who need to speak, please speak.
For those who are in a position to listen, please listen.
Please listen to understand, knowing that all of us could be on either side of the table at different times in our lives.

In the world of social media never have we been so connected and never have we been so alone. We hope this film will raise awareness of the possibility of a kinder way of being and the knowledge that caring and human contact may save a life.

If you can be anything be Kind.

Saagar

The meaning of His name is ‘OCEAN’.

When the tiny droplets of rain fell on my face,

I could feel his presence in the water

that has risen from the oceans and now

came to me with love and gentleness.

Saagar, a linguist par excellence, had just completed his Second year at Durham University, reading French and Arabic. French, because he loved everything French, and Arabic because he wanted to challenge himself and learn a language from scratch. Aside from that, he was a passionate drummer, a fast-bowler and he loved to make people laugh. It came easy as he was a fabulous mimic. Be it the mannerism of a stereotypical teenager or the man at the Chinese takeaway, his effortless and accurate impressions of all kinds of people often had us in splits. His friendships were solid. He gave the best hugs. At the age of 20, he was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder at a well-reputed Mental Health hospital in South London. Initially, he responded well to treatment, but then the services failed him. Within 10 weeks of being diagnosed, he ended his own life.

He was my beautiful son. His death was not just a tragedy for our family but a huge loss to society as he had so much to offer. So much love, talent and compassion. His death opened my eyes to the fact that no one is immune to suicide. That the medical profession fails many young people in difficulty through lack of good leadership, true compassion, understanding and expertise. That the society can be blind to young suicide because it’s a taboo, shrouded in deep darkness.

The day Saagar died, my life was cleaved into ‘Before’ and ‘After’. I wondered, “If I didn’t know, how many people don’t know that this travesty can befall their friends and families?” I felt compelled to do something. I started writing a blog called Kidsaregifts. I wrote every day for a thousand days, sharing my learning, helpful resources, grief, healing and other stories. The blog has formed a supportive community around itself. I also wrote articles for the Telegraph, the Guardian and the Huffington Post. I found it to be an effective way of raising awareness and giving a voice to other families like ours.

Saagar’s friends have been a constant source of joy and strength for us. They have also been ambassadors of good mental health in their communities. Saagar lives in our hearts. His school has honoured him in many ways, one of which is by installing a bench on the school grounds in his memory. We believe that Saagar’s death was preventable. We believe that many deaths by suicide are preventable.

by Sangeeta Mahajan