Two years ago soap fan John Junior was watching an episode of the Channel Four soap Hollyoaks when they were jolted from the brink of suicide by a powerful storyline about mental health and suicide. John, who has battled depression since they were a child, had planned to end their own life until they saw heart-wrenching scenes featuring the grieving loved-ones of the character Kyle Kelly.
The character, played by former Coronation Street star Adam Rickitt, tragically took his own life in the harrowing Hollyoaks story that highlighted suicide being the biggest cause of death in men under 50. He was found by his friend Darren Osborne, who had also contemplated suicide and had to break the news to Kyle's fiancee Nancy Hayton.
John, 33, from Wilmslow, had experienced suicidal thoughts years earlier and those thoughts returned after their mental health worsened during the first lockdown. Watching the harrowing Hollyoaks scenes encouraged them to seek help from the Samaritians and the SOS Silence of Suicide charity who asked John to be an ambassador.
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Last year their story was told in a five-part series of short films called Hollyoaks: IRL, exploring the real-life stories behind Hollyoaks' biggest issues. And John was overcome with emotion when they met actor Ashley Taylor Dawson, who plays Darren Osborne, in person.
John's episde Hollyoaks Saved My Life was nominated for best short form programme at the BAFTA TV Awards and on Sunday they were proud to walk the red carpet alongside the Hollyoaks cast and crew at the London ceremony, including Kieron Richardson who plays Ste Hay and Vera Chok who plays Honour Chen-Williams in the soap.
They were joined by their beloved cuddly toy duck called Charlie, who offers John comfort from past trauma and anxieties. John and Charlie wore matching dapper outfits for the BAFTAs.
John says being nominated for the BAFTA, which was won by the documentary Our Land, was another pivotal moment for them. "The BAFTA has made me realise something - anything is possible," said John. "I was 30 minutes from suicide."
"Then at BAFTA yesterday, my suicide story nomination, the hope I will give to others, this is the start for bigger things. I'm so humbled."
They added: "It’s Mental Health Awareness week and I've gone from the brink of suicide to the BAFTA awards, inspiring the younger generation, giving hope and stopping suicides. A few people were saying they watched the episode and said it helped them."
John, who identifies as gender fluid and uses the pronouns 'they' and 'them', was diagnosed with a chromosome disorder at the age of 11. John started self harming after leaving primary school. When they started high school, things got worse as they were being bullied for being overweight and walking differently to other children.
In August 2019, they were diagnosed with Emotional Unstable Personality Disorder. As a mental health activist John has teamed up with charities including the Samaritans, MIND, and Papyrus, to educate, raises awareness, break stigma and to prevent suicide.
In November 2019, John created a movement called John and Charlie’s Journey with their trusted toy duck. Charlie gets dressed up in different outfits to suit the occasion and goes everywhere with John and he has celebrity fans including The Real Housewives of Cheshire stars Lystra Adams and Tanya Bardsley.
