WORLD Mental Health Day may be over for another year but for campaigner John Junior, the fight to ensure better support for themselves and others continues.

The Wilmslow mental health champion is stepping up their campaign for more public support for better access to mental health treatments and more awareness of suicide prevention.

John’s latest mission is to encourage people to sign a petition asking the Government to fund billboards that will raise awareness and promote the prevention of suicide, including sign posting to services to help in a time of need.

They said: “I was in Manchester recently with my brother, and everywhere there are electronic billboards with information about Covid 19. And I get that they are important, we’re in a pandemic. But people’s mental health is a big issue at this time. A lot of people are struggling and it’s only going to get worse the longer this goes on.

“Boris Johnson says he wants to protect people, but what about suicide prevention? What about mental health? There’s nothing, it’s a joke. I wake up wanting to die every day. I speak to thousands of others who feel the same.”

John has spoken openly about their experiences with depression, anxiety, borderline personality disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, dissociative identity disorder and panic disorder.

They set up John and Charlie’s Journey to raise awareness of mental health issues and to campaign for access to better mental health services.

John recently teamed up with the mental health charity Time to Change to tell their story. You can view the video they made for World Mental Health Day here.

They’ve also worked with the Zero Suicide Alliance and NHS and social care-funded initiative which provided free training for suicide prevention in a time of need.

John said: “I am a suicide survivor and having billboards would be a life changing tool, because I feel it will have a huge impact to help millions of people struggling with their mental health.

“The pandemic is causing damaging mental health for people, including myself, who have thought about suicide during lockdown. These billboards can help prevent suicides.”

The petition is available at petition.parliament.uk/petitions/552300

Mental Health and Suicide Support

The NHS Choices website lists the following helplines and support networks for people to talk to:

•         Samaritans (116 123) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you're feeling, or if you're worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org.

•         PAPYRUS (0800 068 41 41) is an organisation supporting teenagers and young adults who are feeling suicidal.

•         Mind  (0300 123 3393) is a charity providing advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.

•         Students Against Depression is a website for students who are depressed, have a low mood or are having suicidal thoughts.