S2 Ep7 Jon Salmon - Digital Producer and Mental Health Ambassador

Jon Salmon - Digital Producer and Mental Health Ambassador

This episode was recorded at the Getahead Festival in August 2021. Getahead is a mental health festival that brings people, organisations, brands and charities together from within the health and wellbeing space. In collaboration, they raise awareness of the importance of positive mental health and wellbeing. 

I caught up with Jon in the Green room at Getahead to talk about all things mental health, his life, his recovery and what he is doing now to support those struggling with their mental health. We talk about his work at his Agency as a Digital Producer and what characteristics you need to work at an agency like his.

Expect to hear trains going over head, people walking in and all sorts of organic sounds. I love this free flowing chat and I hope you enjoy it too!

Sally J Freeman

Love Live Music UK Instagram - @LoveLiveMusicUK

 

Jon's Bio: Jon Salmon is an award-winning video executive producer, a digital pioneer and co-founder of branded entertainment agency Byte Entertainment.

Jon lost his father to suicide as a teenager. After starting his first job Jon was sectioned and admitted to hospital with stress and depression. Luckily, Jon was able to get the right help and returned to work a year later.

However, Jon decided not to tell anyone about his illness for nearly 20 years due to the stigma and affect 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 speak out when he spoke alongside the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.

Jon has since gone on to co-produce What’s Going On In Your Head exploring the secret inner workings of the mind through performance art and discussion, become a trustee for Let’s Talk About Loss a charity for young people who have been bereaved and the founding member and director of the Speakers Collective challenging stigma and facilitating important conversations.

Jon lives in London, a proud Dad and speaks openly about mental health in the hope it will help others and save lives.

 

If you need help today:

1. The Hub of Hope - https://hubofhope.co.uk - there is always someone to talk to.

2. Shout 85258 If you feel more comfortable texting try Shout 85258 is a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope

https://giveusashout.org/about-us/about-shout/ 

3. Samaritans - https://www.samaritans.org - Whatever you're going through, a Samaritan will face it with you. We're here 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

 

Jon's Mental Health Projects:

http://speakerscollective.org (Director)

https://whatsgoingoninyourhead.org/ (Co-founder)

https://letstalkaboutloss.org/ (Trustee)

https://www.talkitoutmusic.com/ (Time To Change project)

 

Jon's Social Media - reach out to him here:

https://twitter.com/jonsalmon

https://www.instagram.com/j0nsalmon

https://www.jon-salmon.com/

 

Jon's Company:

Byte Entertainment

https://www.byteentertainment.com/

 

A huge thank you to Engineer and Producer Abi Reddey for mastering this while in Thailand - thanks for your unerring support.