October 10th 2024.
When I sat down with James Sutton, best known for his role as John Paul McQueen in Hollyoaks, to discuss male mental health, his energy was infectious. It was like we were transported into a safe and productive space, and I was humbled that he trusted me with his personal experiences and insights.
His new podcast, Male Mind Matters, aims to break down barriers and encourage men to speak up about their mental health. Instead of a Q&A format, James actively participates in the conversations with his guests, exploring his own journey and vulnerabilities. During a chat with Duncan Craig OBE, who runs an organization supporting male survivors of sexual abuse, James opened up about an ordeal he had never spoken about before. It wasn't planned, but it felt natural to share his story in a safe environment.
James was only 14 when an older man groomed and sexually abused him, leaving him feeling vulnerable and ill-equipped to handle the situation. He remembers feeling like a grown-up, hanging out with older people and feeling cool and listened to. But the betrayal of trust and the abuse he endured were difficult to process and come to terms with. With the support of his loved ones, James made a report to the police, even though the process felt cold and clinical. He has no regrets and is proud of himself for standing up against his abuser.
Although he has moved forward with his life, James is aware that not everyone has found a safe space to speak out. He hopes that by sharing his story and through the work of organizations like Duncan's Survivors, more men will have the strength and courage to seek help and move forward as a society.
This is not the first time James has used his platform to raise awareness about male sexual abuse. He first met Duncan while working on a Hollyoaks storyline about the rape of his character, John Paul. James is proud of the show's efforts to address real-life issues and spark important discussions. However, filming the storyline did bring back some memories of his own experience, which he had emotionally dealt with and put to rest. But he was able to draw on those feelings of vulnerability to bring authenticity to his character. He knew exactly how John Paul felt, having to speak up about such a traumatic experience to strangers.
James believes that as an actor, it's important to lend a bit of yourself to the character and bring authenticity to your performance. And for him, that meant tapping into his own experiences and vulnerability. He hopes that by sharing his story, he can help others feel less alone and encourage them to speak up and seek help. Because, as he knows from personal experience, the weight of carrying such trauma alone can have long-lasting effects.
When I sat down with James Sutton, known for his role as John Paul McQueen on Hollyoaks, to discuss male mental health, his positive energy was contagious. He had a genuine enthusiasm for creating a safe and productive space, which is something he has been able to achieve on his new podcast, Male Mind Matters. On this podcast, he engages in honest and insightful conversations with male guests about mental health and wellbeing.
James is passionate about breaking down the barriers that prevent men from speaking out about their struggles. I was honored that he trusted me enough to share his personal insights and difficult experiences that he had never spoken about before. Instead of following a traditional Q&A format, James prefers to actively participate and explore his own vulnerabilities alongside his guests. During a conversation with Duncan Craig OBE, who heads the organization We Are Survivors, James found himself opening up about an ordeal that he had never planned on discussing on the podcast.
According to James, it felt like a natural and safe space to have an open dialogue with someone about his past experiences. He shared a few personal details that he had never talked about before, and it was a liberating experience for him. In this particular conversation, James talked about being sexually abused by an older man when he was only 14 years old. He recalled feeling vulnerable and unprepared for such an adult situation, where he was convinced to believe that he was cool and listened to. Despite reporting the incident to the police, James found the process to be cold and clinical. However, he has no regrets and is proud of himself for speaking up.
With the support of his loved ones, James has been able to move forward with his life. He is now concerned about those who are unable to find a safe space to speak out. He believes that there are many men out there who have never talked about their experiences and are carrying the weight of it with them. As a society, James hopes that through his podcast and the work of organizations like Duncan's Survivors, more men will feel empowered to speak up and seek help.
James has been using his platform to raise awareness about male sexual abuse. He first met Duncan while working on a Hollyoaks storyline about the rape of his character, John Paul. He is proud of the show's commitment to tackling real-life issues and starting important conversations. However, filming the storyline did bring back some memories of his own experience at 14. James had already dealt with his past emotionally, but he was able to draw on his vulnerability to bring authenticity to his character.
He believes that as an actor, it is important to lend a part of yourself to the character you are playing. In this case, he could relate to John Paul's vulnerability and the difficult task of speaking to strangers about such a traumatic experience. Despite being a little older than John Paul, James understood the feeling of reverting to a childlike state in such situations. He hopes that through his work, he can help others find the strength and courage to speak out and seek help.
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