Samuel tells of struggle
AUSTRALIAN actor and Love Your Sister founder Samuel Johnson has opened up about the importance of speaking up when things aren’t right mentally.
The former Gold Logie award winner spoke candidly about the importance of checking in with mates in light of the Townsville Bulletin’s #checkyourmates campaign.
He said mental health issues didn’t discriminate.
“I think it’s good that the conversation is opening up around mental health because we all have our issues,” Johnson said.
“It’s better out than in, in terms of talking about it, otherwise it festers.”
The much-loved celebrihas previously spoken ty openly about losing several loved ones to suicide.
In 2006, shortly after a close female friend took her own life, Johnson’s girlfriend, 20-year-old Lainie Woodlands, died by suicide.
His mother also took her own life when his father left her shortly after he was born.
Struggling to deal with losing three of the most important women in his life, Johnson began undergoing treatment for depression and developed a reliance on alcohol.
He said he had learnt first hand the importance of listening and being there for loved ones who may be suffering in silence.
“Support them in the way they want to be supported, not in the way you want to support them,” he said.
Johnson also said it was important to understand the mental impacts of being diagnosed with a terminal illness.
His sister Connie, who passed away in 2017, had been battling cancer since she was 11 years old.
She was diagnosed with bone cancer at 11, uterine cancer at 22 and breast cancer at 33.
“There’s a link between cancer and mental health problems, the statistics around the relationship are startling,” Johnson said.
“I urge everyone, whether you have cancer or not, make sure you are chatting to friends and moving your body.”
For 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au