On this episode of The Mess We're In, I talk to brilliant friend Jon Salmon.
Jon is an award-winning executive producer, co-founder of Byte Entertainment and Co-CEO of Speakers Collective.
When I met Jon I was overwhelmed by how generous he is with the time he dedicates to supporting and championing others and it was glorious to hear the stories about his journey and all the amazing organisations he’s been involved with.
**Content Warning** This episode discusses themes of suicide and mental illness
Jon lost his father to suicide when he was a teenager. A few years later after starting his first job he was sectioned and admitted to hospital with stress and depression. Luckily, Jon was able to get the right help in the end and returned to work a year later.
However, Jon decided not to tell anyone about his mental illness or Dad's suicide for nearly 20 years due to the stigma and effect he thought it would have on his career and friendships.
It was sadly after the suicide of a close friend due to postnatal depression in 2016 that Jon decided he had to speak out.
Jon couldn't have picked a more public platform to talk about mental health when he spoke alongside the Prince and Princess of Wales as part of the Heads Together mental health campaign.
Jon has since gone on to be the Co-CEO of the Speakers Collective not for profit, challenging stigma and facilitating important conversations with over 200 lived experience speakers. Jon is the Co-producer of What's Going On In Your Head exploring the secret inner workings of the mind through performance art and discussion.
A trustee for Let's Talk About Loss a charity for young people who have been bereaved, and a mentor for The House of St Barnabas Soho, employment academy to break the cycle of homelessness.
Jon is a keen fundraiser and enjoys being involved in challenges that raise awareness, funding, and research into mental health support.
Jon lives in London, a proud Dad and speaks openly about mental health and being dyslexic in the hope it will help others ask for help and save lives. Charity referenced: Made by dyslexia
Find and follow Jon:
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT: