This stands in stark contrast to the conventional screen depiction of suicide, where the reasons are generally obvious and explicit. “I think we’re so attuned to that screen language of ‘this person’s not doing well, we should watch out for them’,” says O’Donnell. “It’s like someone in a period film coughing blood into a handkerchief … it’s kind of fascinating and heartbreaking that in the actual world we live in, these things happen so randomly and unexpectedly. That’s a more interesting story world for us, I think.”

It may be interesting, but making a show about mental health struggles carries with it a heavier responsibility than most. There is a taboo about depictions of suicide based not just on audience sensibilities but on the pervasive fear among many that even mentioning the subject out loud can have a catastrophic contagion effect.

Vella believes that this fear of talking openly about suicide and suicidal ideation is counterproductive. “I think reluctance to talk about these things means we feel more shame when we experience them. I hope the show will lessen the shame that people feel.”

Awareness of the potential for on-screen action to have an impact on the real world, however, led producers to seek expert guidance. On both Totally Completely Fine and In Limbo, suicide prevention professionals were consulted and guidelines for responsible depictions strictly followed. In the process the casts and crews learnt a lot themselves.

O’Donnell had his eyes opened regarding the conventional view of male suicide. “Something I learnt was that [the] notion that men need to open up more and talk about their feelings … is really a case by case thing. That’s great for some people, and for other people being stoic can be their best way of handling stuff.”

For Vella, one of the major takeaways, appropriately enough given the theme of her show, was the importance of directness. “What we were hearing from the suicide prevention bodies was that when you suspect someone is in a period of suicidal ideation, you need to ask them outright: are you thinking about suicide?”

What both In Limbo and Totally Complete Fine convey, more than anything else, is that suicide and suicidal ideation is not just something that happens in moments of operatic extremity to people with problems and heightened feelings. Rather, the question of whether or not to go on living is one that can intrude on our lives at any time for any number of reasons.

If entertainment can ever have an effect on real people’s lives, there could surely be no better way than by shining light on times of darkness. For TCF’s Vivian and In Limbo’s Charlie, moments of great sadness provide both humour and the opportunity to find an unexpected strength.

Lifeline 131114.

In Limbo is on ABC, Wednesday, 9.05pm and iview; Totally Completely Fine is on Stan.

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