A SUICIDE survivor from Wilmslow who campaigns for better mental health care has been nominated for this year’s National Diversity Awards.

For more than a year, John Junior, who is gender fluid, has been joined by their large, yellow support duck teddy on a mission to help raise awareness about mental health issues and fight for better access to treatment.

And their work has led to them being put forward in the Positive Role Model (Gender) category of the national awards, which were set up to create and celebrate a new generation of positive role models for the UK.

The Positive Role Model category recognises an individual within the community who shows selflessness, drives change and works tirelessly to inspire others.

From launching petitions, lobbying MPs, and working with charities such as The Samaritans and PAPYRUS,­ to gathering support from BAFTA-nominated Life After Suicide director, Angela Samata, John has kept telling their story in hope of raising awareness about the need for better mental health support.

Born with Klinefelters syndrome – which means they have an extra X female chromosome – John has spoken openly of their lived experience of depression and anxiety, plus borderline personality, obsessive-compulsive, dissociative identity and panic disorders, in order to help other people.

So, to be acknowledged for their campaigning efforts has been ‘incredible’ for the 32-year-old.

“I was absolutely amazed,” said John, who found out about the nomination on Monday.

“I’ve no idea who put me forward, I just got an email and was tagged on Twitter from the awards’ account – I don’t even know who’s put me forward for it. It’s crazy. Brilliant, but absolutely crazy.

“To see the nomination, and to read that what I’ve been doing does mean something to other people, so much that they wanted to put me forward, made me feel really emotional. It made me cry – but they were happy tears.

“I feel absolutely privileged and honoured.”

The nomination summed up John’s campaigning work over the past 12 months, adding: “They work so hard and all they want to do is save lives, they are an inspiration, and they deserve this award.”

John recently made national news for explaining how a plotline in soap opera Hollyoaks helped them change their plans to take their own life at a particularly tough point during the first lockdown, and have a film called The Mood is Temporary, based on their experiences, in early development.

John is now waiting to find out whether they will make the award shortlist.

“Of course it would be brilliant to be shortlisted,” they said. “But to just have been nominated is amazing. I’m not doing this for awards, I’m doing this to help other people.”