John Junior

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John Junior
Junior in 2020
Junior in 2020
Background information
Birth nameJohn Junior
Born (1988-10-04) 4 October 1988 (age 32)
Wilmslow, Cheshire, England
GenresBritish hip hop
Occupation(s)
  • Mental health activist
  • television personality
  • rapper
  • film director
  • actor
  • vlogger
Years active2017-present
LabelsRaw and Real
Websitewww.johnandcharlie.co.uk

John Junior (born 4 October 1988), known as John and Charlie's Journey, is a British mental health activist, rapper, film director, actor, and vlogger from Wilmslow, Cheshire. In November 2019 he created the movement "John and Charlie's Journey".[1][2] The purpose of the movement is to raise awareness of suicide and mental illness. John and Charlie were invited on stage by Keith Duffy (Boyzone) and Brian McFadden (Westlife) during their Boyzlife concert in February 2020.[3][4] After the Boyzlife concert, Tanya Bardsley who stars in the reality television series The Real housewives of Cheshire approached John to create a wellness hub.[5][1] Junior is also a television and media personality know for his participation on BBC Radio 5 live, with Hollyoaks cast member Ashley Taylor Dawson.[6] Junior went viral for his participation in Channel 4's Hollyoaks IRL series.[7]

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".[1] In May 2020 his vlogs on Instagram caught the attention of UNILAD, who approached Junior to test Samaritans self-help app during mental health awareness week.[8] UNILAD approached Junior and Jack Garrett about their mental health struggles to help raise awareness for world suicide prevention day on 10 September 2020.[2]

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.[9][10]

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.[11]

Since Boris Johnston first lockdown announcement, Junior cant believe how different he feels now, life has changed so much for the better. Passionate to help others who are suffering alone with their own mental health, who are scared to speak due to feeling stigmatised. Junior said that he will continue lobbying and campaigning for change for services that are not funded or don't have the right support, which is why he is passionate to keep campaigning for change to the mental health services.[12]

John and Charlie's Journey Movement[]

John and Charlie's Journey at Rex cinema, Wilmslow

In November 2019, Junior created the movement "John and Charlie's Journey".[2] 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.[5][4]

Charity[]

SOS Silence to suicide has made Junior an Ambassador.[13]

Coronavirus Pandemic & OCD[]

Junior has obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) and says in a video for BBC news, that "lockdown has made his OCD worse, I have to clean this door handle, until my OCD tells me to stop. Junior vlogs in lockdown to help others who are struggling.[14]

Hollyoaks[]

At the start of the first UK lockdown in March 2020, Junior was struggling with suicide ideation, and in June 2020, his mental health was getting worse, constant low moods and battling the final symptom of depression. He has suicidal thoughts, and after watching a Hollyoaks storyline, when Darren (Ashley Taylor Dawson), was comforting Nancy (Jessica Fox) as she was distressed about Kyle (Adam Rickett) her partner taking his own life.[15] BBC Radio 5 filmed Junior thanking Dawson for saving his life, Junior stated '' men don't like to talk because it make us look weak, we're not weak, we're human, its okay to cry, its okay to reach out for help''. After the storyline Junior found support from Samaritans helpline.[16][17][18]

Hollyoaks IRL (In real life) series[]

Channel 4 have commissioned Lime Digital to produce Hollyoaks IRL a series of short films of real-life stories. Junior's episode '' Stopping my suicide '', was the first episode to be released on 16 June 2021. Junior had planned to take his life but stopped after watching a Hollyoaks suicide storyline in June 2020. Junior met actor Ashley Taylor Dawson for the first time in the episode.[19] Junior went viral with 97,000 views on YouTube in a short time frame for his participation in the series Hollyoaks IRL.[7]

The Mood is Temporary (Film)[]

Junior is making a film with Falmouth University graduate, Chloe Richardson. The project is called ''The Mood is Temporary'', which Junior was inspired by a Hollyoaks storyline that helped him with suicide ideation in 2020. The plot follows a character called Harrison who hides how he feels due to the stigma surrounding men and mental health. The film is written by Lottie Smith who is taking a Master's degree at Falmouth University. Hollyoaks script advisor, Angela Samata is supporting the project, which is being filmed in 2022 in Manchester and Cornwall.[20]

The plot is about a guy called Harrison who is struggling with his mental health in lockdown, who is scared to reach out about how he feels, due to the worry of judgement and stigma.[21] This feature-length film, is being Directed by Junior.[22]

Television[]

TV Appearances
TV Channel First Aired Role
BBC Breakfast '' My OCD got worse in lockdown''[23] 24/09/20 Contributor
BBC News 24 '' My OCD got worse in lockdown'' [23] 24/09/20 Contributor
BBC News '' Hollyoaks suicide storyline '[24] 21/01/21 Contributor

Filmography[]

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2021 Rise of the Footsoldier: Origins - The Tony Tucker Story[25] ICF Football Hooligan Post - Production
2021 Hollyoaks IRL: Ep1 - Stopping my suicide Himself Released
2023 The Mood is Temporary (Feature film) Director Pre - Production

Awards and nominations[]

Year Award Category Result
2021 National Diversity Awards Positive Role Model (Gender)[26] Nominated

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c Maidment, Adam (2020-06-05). "How John and Charlie are turning mental health trauma into personal success". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 2020-10-02.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Male Suicide In England And Wales Is At Its Worst In 20 Years, We Need To Talk About It". www.unilad.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-10-02.
  3. ^ "Mental health campaigner launches therapy petition". Knutsford Guardian. Retrieved 2020-10-02.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "'Its Okay Not To Be Okay' | VIVA UK Lifestyle Magazine". UK Lifestyle Magazine | VIVA Manchester. 2020-03-04. Retrieved 2020-10-02.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Fitzpatrick, Katie (2020-02-22). "Real Housewives star is launching a wellness hub after battling anxiety". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 2020-10-02.
  6. ^ "Hollyoaks suicide storyline 'saved my life'". BBC News. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b McIntyre, Alex (2021-06-21). "'I was planning suicide, until Hollyoaks episode saved my life'". CheshireLive. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
  8. ^ "Samaritans Self-Help App Prevented This Person From Self-Harming". www.unilad.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-10-02.
  9. ^ "MP supports mental health activist's bid for parliamentary debate". Knutsford Guardian. Retrieved 2020-10-02.
  10. ^ "MP to apply for parliamentary debate to support Wilmslow mental health campaigner - wilmslow.co.uk". www.wilmslow.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-10-02.
  11. ^ "Suicide survivor steps up campaign for better mental health awareness". Knutsford Guardian. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  12. ^ "How life has changed for Wilmslow suicide survivor during pandemic". Knutsford Guardian. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
  13. ^ "'Hollyoaks saved my life' – mental health activist features in documentary series". Knutsford Guardian. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
  14. ^ "'My OCD got worse in lockdown'". BBC News. Retrieved 2020-11-24.
  15. ^ "Hollyoaks suicide storyline 'saved my life'". BBC News. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  16. ^ Fitzpatrick, Katie (2021-02-01). "Lockdown drove me to the brink - but a Hollyoaks storyline saved my life". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  17. ^ "Hollyoaks suicide storyline 'saved my life'". BBC Radio 5 - In the short.
  18. ^ West, Amy (2021-01-20). "Hollyoaks saved life of radio contributor with Kyle Kelly's tragic storyline". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
  19. ^ "Channel 4 Commissions Hollyoaks: IRL A Short-Form Series Of Real-Life Documentaries | Channel 4". www.channel4.com. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
  20. ^ Fitzpatrick, Katie (2021-03-25). "Mental health activist has made Hollyoaks-inspired film". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  21. ^ "TV soap storyline inspires suicide prevention film being made in Falmouth". Falmouth Packet. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  22. ^ Fitzpatrick, Katie (2021-06-12). "Soap fan saved from suicide by Hollyoaks". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  23. ^ Jump up to: a b "'My OCD got worse in lockdown'". BBC News. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
  24. ^ "Hollyoaks suicide storyline 'saved my life'". BBC News. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
  25. ^ "Suicide survivor reflects on life-changing year". Knutsford Guardian. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
  26. ^ "Wilmslow Suicide survivor nominated for National Diversity Award". Knutsford Guardian. Retrieved 2021-04-24.

External links[]

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