A powerful new documentary made its debut at Durham College (DC) this month.

Silent Voices sheds light on the critical issue of mental health in Black communities by telling the stories of six individuals from different age groups and walks of life. In emotional interviews, they share their experiences of the racism and systemic barriers they’ve faced in their lives. Stories like these often go unheard, which is reflected in the name of the film.

It was a passion project for Dr. Crystal Garvey, a Faculty Member in the Nursing – Collaborative Bachelor of Science (BScN) program at DC, who co-produced it with Visual Redux with in-kind work from Vanceworld Media.

On March 6, the documentary premiered during a special event at DC’s Centre for Innovation and Research (CIR) that also included a panel discussion with mental health professionals.

“It was overwhelming, in a good way,” said Garvey of the event. “I’m just grateful and humbled that it was well received. It’s very important to have the community come together, because I’m sharing their voice.”

Borne out of a desire to bring awareness to Black mental health, the documentary was produced over the last two years with the support and insights of Garvey’s DC colleagues.

The completion of the documentary dovetailed perfectly with Garvey’s role as lead researcher of a project at the CIR’s Social Impact Hub; ‘Bridging the gap: Developing Culturally Responsive Mental Health Care with and for Black Communities.’ Last year, the project received a $360,000 federal grant from the College and Community Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF), funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

“This is where preparation met opportunity, because I had this documentary sitting on a shelf, and I wasn’t sure what to do with it, but I knew that I wanted to spread awareness,” she said. “When we launched this research project about Black mental health, it was the perfect opportunity to use this piece and platform to bring awareness. That’s how this event came about.”

Attendees from DC and the wider community filled the event space at the CIR, including Mojgan Rezvani, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences. Speaking before the screening, she set the stage for the impactful documentary and credited Garvey for the passion and commitment that made it possible.

“This is more than just a film. It is a testament to the lived experiences, the systemic challenges and the strength found in sharing our stories,” she said. “Dr. Garvey is the visionary behind this project, driving its creation, shaping its impact, and ensuring that black mental health is not only acknowledged, but actively prioritized. Through this powerful documentary, we explore the deep intersections of culture, race and mental health, conversations that are too often left unheard.”