Award-winning mental health campaigner, author and film producer, Jonny Benjamin MBE will share his story of how a passing stranger stopped him from taking his own life at a special event in Newcastle next month.
The event, which takes place at George Street Social on 1st August from 6pm, celebrates and discusses the power of friendship in mental health and wellbeing. It has been organised through a partnership between Newcastle United Foundation and The Road to Recovery Trust – the charity behind recovery café George Street Social.
Aiming to get more people talking about mental health and addiction recovery, the event will feature talks from Jonny Benjamin, author of The Stranger on the Bridge. Jonny will be joined by Newcastle United Foundation Health and Wellbeing Manager, Ashley Lowe, Road to Recovery Trust Chief Executive, Peter Mitchell and founder of local charity, If You Care Share, Matthew Smith.
The Stranger on the Bridge, which was made into a book and a documentary film, tells the story of how, having been recently diagnosed with Schizoaffective Disorder, Jonny stood on London’s Waterloo Bridge and prepared to take his own life.
That was until a stranger walking across the bridge talked Jonny down from the edge. Jonny was immediately taken to hospital and didn’t see the stranger again, but, with the support of the charity Rethink Mental Illness, he launched the #FindMike campaign, to track the stranger down. The campaign reached over 300 million people worldwide and eventually led to Neil Laybourn – the man who saved Jonny’s life.
Newcastle United Foundation’s #BeAGameChanger campaign, supported by Newcastle City Council and the Premier League PFA Community Fund encourages Newcastle United fans to talk more openly about mental health. Health and Wellbeing Manager, Ashley Lowe, will talk about the Foundation’s wellbeing programmes, and the impact they are having in the local community.
Road to Recovery Trust CEO and former Director of Programmes at Tyne Tees, Peter Mitchell, will discuss the importance of friendship within the recovery community, and why recovery cafes like George Street Social offer an essential lifeline to people in recovery form addiction problems.
And Matthew Smith will be sharing his personal story of losing his brother to suicide and the importance of sharing whilst acknowledging that we all need to share in different ways.
There will be opportunities to ask all speakers questions at the end of the event.
An inspirational event for anyone interested in, experiencing or supporting someone with a mental health problem.
Tickets cost just £2 and can be booked via the Eventbrite link. All money goes directly to the Road to Recovery Trust.