James is eager to create more safe spaces for men to talk (Picture: L1Photography)
‘I’m doing great! I’ve genuinely never been better,’ Hollyoaks legend James Sutton enthusiastically told me when we sat down together to talk male mental health recently.
The positive energy coming off the actor, known for his role as fan-favourite John Paul McQueen, was infectious, and transported us both into what felt like a really productive and safe space.
It’s a vibe that he has effortlessly managed to create for guests on his new podcast series, Male Mind Matters, which will feature a range of in-depth, honest, insightful conversations between himself and a male guest, always with a link to the topic of mental health and wellbeing.
He is full of passion and determination to break down the barriers stopping so many men feeling able to speak out, and I feel humbled that he was able to go on to trust me with his own insights into difficult personal experiences he rarely touched upon previously.
Rather than a Q&A format, James’ approach for his podcast is to participate just as actively and explore his own journey and vulnerabilities alongside his guest and, it was during a chat with Duncan Craig OBE – head of We Are Survivors, an organisation which supports male survivors of sexual abuse – that he found himself organically mentioning an ordeal he has never spoken about before.
It wasn’t something he set out as a plan for the podcast episode, James told me, explaining: ‘It felt brilliant to have an open dialogue in a safe environment with somebody. I’m quite honest in that chat about a few things that are quite personal to me because it’s a safe space.
‘It felt like a natural thing to do and say what I’ve been through.’
James filmed a podcast episode with Duncan Craig OBE, who has worked with a number of shows on their male sex abuse storylines (Picture: L1Photography)
Elaborating on his situation during our conversation, James recalled feeling ‘vulnerable and un-equipped’ at the age of 14, when an older man groomed and sexually abused him.
Sharing his story with me, he said: ‘I was made to feel like a grown-up, like I was in an adult environment hanging out with older people. For a 14-year-old, you feel cool and listened to.
‘To have an abuse of trust where somebody put their hands on me was very difficult to process and come to terms with.’
With the support of loved ones, James did make a report of what happened to him to the police and, while admitting that the process often felt cold and clinical, he is vehement to me that he has no regrets and is rightfully proud of himself for making a stand.
Since then, he feels he has managed to move forward with his life and his thoughts are of those who are unable to find that safe space to speak out.
‘It’s not something that’s affected me in my adult life,’ he reflected. ‘I put it behind me and it could’ve …read more
Source:: Metro
