As the region and nation reels from the impacts of bushfires and COVID-19 and experts warn of a rise in suicide and mental-health related illness, the film comes at a critical time for policy reform, panelists agreed.

From community hubs to the halls of parliament, the film should be compulsory viewing in starting conversations and setting the agenda for the changes needed to our "fractured, disjointed" mental health system, the online audience heard.

Excerpts from the documentary Solstice were screened during the online event, which was followed by a live streamed discussion including film-maker Helen Newman, Winter Solstice co-founder Stuart Baker, Albury-Wodonga mental health operations director Leah Wiseman and renowned youth mental health expert Professor Patrick McGorry.

The event was in part a fundraiser for the $98,000 needed to complete an independent project that documents the intimate and devastating stories of those at the front-line in the battle for mental health care - survivors of suicide.

It has been described as a "determined and hopeful" story that came out of the heartbreaking loss of Stuart and Annette Baker's daughter Mary, at the age of 15.

It began as a journey to shine a light on the darkest night of this family's lives and has reached a global audience.

Solstice, which has been a labour of love for Newman for more than two years, brings together "so many brave people raising their voices and coming out of the most horrible experiences to bring about change".

Newman said her vision for the film was to develop a unique resource that could be used in schools, workplaces, community groups, and state and federal governments to explore the lived experience of those most deeply affected by suicide and mental illness.

The aim is to create a "living website" where existing stories become the portals for information about specific groups at risk of suicide.

"This documentary is so vitally important particularly in the times we are seeing now," Newman said.

Professor McGorry said economists had labelled suicide as the "shadow pandemic" and revealed there had been 60 deaths in this local government area in the past five years.

He said 14,000 deaths in five years was not enough to get advisors on board to really "talk" about suicide.

"Even though our Prime Minister has now put it right out there at the top of the agenda, it is being muffled by the people who should be empowering him," Prof McGorry said.

Mr Baker said he would like to see the Border's Winter Solstice event become a national day of remembrance for survivors of suicide.