IT has been more than one year since a mental health activist’s life was saved after watching an emotional episode of Hollyoaks surrounding mental health.

John Junior, from Wilmslow, recently featured in a series of short films exploring the real-life events which helped inform some of TV show Hollyoaks’ most powerful storylines.

One episode in the digital series, which is titled Hollyoaks: IRL, focused on John, whose life was saved after watching a mental health and suicide-related storyline on the programme starring Ashley Taylor Dawson.

John, who uses they/them pronouns, has spoken openly about how the Hollyoaks storyline around the subject of suicide helped to save their life, and this has led to opportunities for them to spread awareness on the subject.

“Since June 2020, watching the Hollyoaks suicide storyline, I haven’t felt depressed for more than 15 months, the first time in 20 years,” John said.

“I feel like a brand new person in my body.

“I really can’t believe watching a storyline on Hollyoaks saved my life and has changed my life, with no depression or suicidal thoughts.

“I feel forever in Lime Pictures and Hollyoaks’ debt.

“They sent me a Welcome to Hollyoaks sign in the post, and they put some words on it, saying, ‘To John. Your story has helped so many. Keep doing what you are doing and stay true to yourself.'

“I read this and was in tears – happy tears – it felt good being able to share my experience with them, and it’s helped millions of people.

“I received thousands of messages about how watching my documentary has helped others who have been depressed and suicidal.”

John has since been named as ambassador for the charity SOS Silence of Suicide and is also directing a short film called Tied Down.

John said: “I got approached by Evie Joyce, the producer, and was asked to direct her film.

“With my background of being an activist for mental health, she thought it would be a great opportunity for me to direct this mental health-themed storyline.

“The production is being filmed at my house in Wilmslow and we start filming in January 2022.

“I have also set a new campaign up to make mental health first aid compulsory for all businesses in the UK."

Visit change.org/p/make-mental-health-first-aid-compulsory-for-all-businesses.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can go to samaritans.org or call 116 123 for free at any time.

You can also visit sossilenceofsuicide.org.