John Junior

John Junior (born 4 October 1988), is a British mental health activist from Wilmslow, Cheshire. He was featured in an episode of the documentary series Hollyoaks IRL. [1][2]In November 2019 he created the movement "John and Charlie's Journey," to raise awareness of suicide and mental illness.[3][4]

John Junior
Junior in 2020
Background information
Birth nameJohn Junior
Born (1988-10-04) 4 October 1988
Wilmslow, Cheshire, England
Occupation(s)
  • Mental health activist
Websitewww.johnjunior.co.uk

Activism

In 2019, Junior started vlogging about his experiences of mental health issues on Instagram in order "to reach out to others with mental health difficulties".[3] In May 2020 Junior tested Samaritans self-help app for UNILADduring mental health awareness week.[5] Junior subsequently talked to UNILAD about their mental health struggles to help raise awareness for world suicide prevention day on 10 September 2020.[4]

In September 2020 the "DBT for all campaign" was created to make dialectical behaviour therapy, used to treat children, teenagers and adults who are suicidal and have self-destructive behaviours, more widely available on the NHS throughout the United Kingdom. Supporting the campaign is Esther McVey, conservative MP for Tatton, who has applied for parliamentary debate at Westminster Hall.[6][7]

John Junior and Charlie were invited on stage with Brian McFadden and Keith Duffy

In October 2020, Junior started a campaign for the British government to fund billboards to sign post people to safety who are struggling with mental health throughout the coronavirus pandemic.[8]

John and Charlie's Journey at Rex cinema, Wilmslow

In November 2019, Junior created the movement "John and Charlie's Journey".[4] Junior travels around the United Kingdom with Charlie T. Duck, a stuffed teddy duck, to encourage people to talk about mental health and to end the judgement & stigma.[9][10]

Hollyoaks IRL

At the start of the first UK lockdown in March 2020, Junior was struggling with suicidal ideation. After watching a Hollyoaks storyline that involved suicide,[11] BBC Radio 5 filmed Junior thanking the storyline and the show.[12][13][14]

Channel 4 have commissioned Lime Digital to produce Hollyoaks IRL a series of short films of real-life stories. Junior's episode "Hollyoaks saved my life" was the first episode to be released on 16 June 2021.[15] Junior went viral for his participation in the series Hollyoaks IRL.[16] Hollyoaks saved my life (Hollyoaks IRL), has been nominated for the a BAFTA award, in the Short Form Programme 2022. [17][18][19]

Junior is making a film with Chloe Richardson called 'The Mood is Temporary, inspired by the Hollyoaks storyline.[20] In February 2022, Junior appeared in the factual entertainment show Gross Up. [21]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
2021 Hollyoaks IRL: Hollyoaks saved my life Himself Released
2022 Gross up (E4) Ep 6 Himself Released

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Result
2021 National Diversity Awards Positive Role Model (Gender)[22] Nominated

References
  1. "Hollyoaks suicide storyline 'saved my life'". BBC News. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  2. "Channel 4 Commissions Hollyoaks: IRL A Short-Form Series Of Real-Life Documentaries | Channel 4". www.channel4.com. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  3. Maidment, Adam (5 June 2020). "How John and Charlie are turning mental health trauma into personal success". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  4. "Male Suicide In England And Wales Is At Its Worst In 20 Years, We Need To Talk About It". www.unilad.co.uk. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  5. "Samaritans Self-Help App Prevented This Person From Self-Harming". www.unilad.co.uk. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  6. "MP supports mental health activist's bid for parliamentary debate". Knutsford Guardian. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  7. "MP to apply for parliamentary debate to support Wilmslow mental health campaigner - wilmslow.co.uk". www.wilmslow.co.uk. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  8. "Suicide survivor steps up campaign for better mental health awareness". Knutsford Guardian. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  9. Fitzpatrick, Katie (22 February 2020). "Real Housewives star is launching a wellness hub after battling anxiety". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  10. "'Its Okay Not To Be Okay' | VIVA UK Lifestyle Magazine". UK Lifestyle Magazine | VIVA Manchester. 4 March 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  11. "Hollyoaks suicide storyline 'saved my life'". BBC News. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  12. Fitzpatrick, Katie (1 February 2021). "Lockdown drove me to the brink - but a Hollyoaks storyline saved my life". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  13. "Hollyoaks suicide storyline 'saved my life'". BBC Radio 5 - In the short.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. West, Amy (20 January 2021). "Hollyoaks saved life of radio contributor with Kyle Kelly's tragic storyline". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  15. "Channel 4 Commissions Hollyoaks: IRL A Short-Form Series Of Real-Life Documentaries | Channel 4". www.channel4.com. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  16. McIntyre, Alex (21 June 2021). "'I was planning suicide, until Hollyoaks episode saved my life'". CheshireLive. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  17. "Bafta TV Awards 2022: The nominations". BBC News. 30 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  18. TV, Guardian (30 March 2022). "Bafta TV awards 2022: full list of nominations". the Guardian. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  19. Herman, Daisy (10 April 2022). "BAFTA nomination for mental health series inspired by Cheshire Hollyoaks fan". CheshireLive. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  20. Fitzpatrick, Katie (25 March 2021). "Mental health activist has made Hollyoaks-inspired film". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  21. Fitzpatrick, Katie (5 February 2022). "Reality TV star on the 'disgusting' gaming habit that could have killed them". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  22. "Wilmslow Suicide survivor nominated for National Diversity Award". Knutsford Guardian. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
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