Last summer John Junior was watching an episode of the Channel Four soap Hollyoaks when they were jolted from the brink of suicide by a powerful storyline about mental health and suicide.
John, who has battled depression since they were a child, had planned to end their own life until they saw heart-wrenching scenes featuring the grieving loved-ones of the character Kyle Kelly.
A year on the mental health activist from Wilmslow says they feel 'reborn' after coming close to taking their own life.
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"I feel reborn," said John.
"I've got motivation and I don't feel sluggish or s*** anymore.
"I have ups and downs but not depression. Something switched in me. I feel reincarnated.
"Watching that storyline has done something to me.
"It has not just saved my life, it has changed my life."
After sharing his story John was appointed an ambassador for the charity SOS Silence of Suicide which aims to eradicate shame, stigma and silence around emotional illness and suicide.
On Friday, to mark World Suicide Prevention Day, John will raise funds for the charity by aiming to eat 20 doughnuts in three minutes without licking their lips.
They added: "I feel brand new and my mum and brother are not going through heartache anymore.
"From that dark place I'm now in a light place.
"I've battled through it and I've had to stay on track but I feel like I've woken up in a different person's body."
John is now calling for more to be done to help others after Hollyoaks helped them.
"I'd like to see moving electronics boards at train stations" they said.
"If I did a video and it was shown everywhere it would help people.
"Instead of a sign you need to hear from real-life people."
John, who identifies as gender fluid and uses the pronouns 'they' and 'them', was diagnosed with Klienfelters Syndrome at the age of 11, a genetic condition that affects boys and men.
Born with an extra X female chromosome John wanted a gender reassignment after feeling they were living in the wrong body at a young age and due to complications they didn't continue.
Depression and anxiety are prevailing symptoms of KS and John started self harming at the age of 11 after leaving primary school.
When they started high school, things got worse as they were being bullied for being overweight and walking differently to other children.
Since being diagnosed with Klienfelters Syndrome, John put the way they were feeling down to KS, but in August 2019, they were diagnosed with Emotional Unstable Personality Disorder.
As an activist John has teamed up with mental health charities including the Samaritans, MIND, and Papyrus, to educate, raises awareness, break stigma and to prevent suicide.
In November 2019, John created a movement called John and Charlie’s Journey with their cuddly toy duck called Charlie, who offers John comfort from past trauma and anxieties.
Charlie gets dressed up in different outfits to suit the occasion and goes everywhere with John and he has celebrity fans including The Real Housewives of Cheshire stars Lystra Adams and Tanya Bardsley.
Earlier this year their story was told in a five-part series of short films exploring the real-life stories behind Hollyoaks ' biggest issues.
And John was overcome with emotion when they met actor Ashley Taylor Dawson, who plays Darren Osborne, in person.
In the storyline Darren, who was also suffering from depression and had contemplated suicide, was the one to find Kyle played by Adam Rickitt.
John has since received a message of thanks from the Hollyoaks team on a replica of the TV village sign.
It reads: "To John. Your story has helped so many.
"Keep doing what you are doing and stay true to yourself."
To make a donation visit justgiving.com/fundraising/suicidepreventionday
