41 - Shaun Johnson - How I went from Serving to Suicide to Shakespeare, how theater saved a soldier

Shaun Johnson had a happy childhood, his father was in the military and when Shaun was able to, he too decided to become a soldier in the British Army. 

​In this video Shaun explains about how as a soldier you become 'switched on' in a hyper vigilant way ​and then when you leave the services it's not so easy to simply switch yourself over to a civilian mindset. 

Shauns transition into civilian life was a traumatic one which took him to the darkest corners of his mind, places he had never been before having always been happy as a child and then as a soldier. This loss of mental well being led him to attempting to take his own life on two occasions. 

Thankfully each attempt was thwarted and a chance comment from a doctor got Shaun thinking in a different way. In turn this led him to Combat Stress where he embarked on a whole new chapter of his life through the arts

Watch now to hear Shauns story and how the stage has helped him carry on living. 

shaunjohnson.org

How the Stage Saved A Soldier 
http://jamie-isbell.com/how-the-stage-saved-a-soldier/

Shaun Johnson will be appearing in Soldier On at The Other Palace Theatre London  24 Oct - 25 Nov 2018
https://www.theotherpalace.co.uk/whats-on/soldier-on

He will also be appearing for one night only at Shakespeares Globe Sam Wanamaker Theatre 11 Nov marking Armistice Day
http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on-2018/armistice-day


The BeGlad Movement is aiming to collect 100 stories of good coming out of bad and reasons to be glad by the end of 2018 to help support each other with our experiences and to raise money for the Samaritans and Action for Happiness. If you would like to donate it would be so greatly appreciated. Thank you!

https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/beglad