**Trigger warning - this episode contains conversations about suicide**
Episode 70
I was terrified that the world would end if I started to share and talk. But it didn’t.
Back in 2008 Jonny Benjamin was saved from a suicide attempt by a stranger. By 2014, following years of psychiatric treatment, campaigning, blogging and writing, the story was produced as a documentary on Channel 4. The Stranger on the Bridge. Then in 2018 Jonny's incredible tale was then turned into a book of the same title. Three years on Jonny has become one of the most well known mental health campaigners in Britain, working alongside the likes of Prince William.
Since that time Jonny has spent the majority of his time trying to bring better mental health awareness into schools, and providing the education and support he felt wasn't available when he was a child. Jonny primarily does this work through a charity he co-founded called Beyond. The other co-founder, Neil Laybourn, was the man who saved Jonny from that suicide attempt back in 2008, Neil was The Stranger on the Bridge.
It's an honour for us to have Jonny on the podcast, a man who has done so much for mental health awareness in this country. We talk to Jonny about his mental health over the last 18 months, his desire to avoid relapse, our thoughts on access to mental health services, a discussion on diagnosis, and the importance of opening up and talking.
If you want to learn more about Beyond, head to their website https://wearebeyond.org.uk/
If you enjoy this episode, or any of our other episodes, please pop over to apple podcasts, and give us a rating and a review.
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/man-marking/id1506661828
You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads
If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk:
Samaritans
Call 116 132 for free
https://www.samaritans.org/
Papyrus UK
Call 0800 068 41 41
Papyrus Website
CALM ZONE
0800 58 58 58
https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/
MIND
0300 123 3393
https://www.mind.org.uk/
The Kaleidoscope Plus Group
0800 059 0123
https://www.kaleidoscopeplus.org.uk/
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