COVER Mental Health Forum: Jonny Benjamin and Neil Laybourn keynote interview

From Channel 4’s ‘Stranger on the Bridge’ documentary

clock • 1 min read

Award-winning mental health campaigners behind #FindMike, This Can Happen and ThinkWell

Ten years ago Neil Laybourn walked past Jonny Benjamin, suffering from a combination of schizophrenia and bipolar, while he sat on Waterloo Bridge considering taking his own life. Neil's decision to stop to talk set in motion a series of life-changing events for them both. After losing touch for six years, Jonny's high-profile social media campaign (#FindMike) went global and the pair were reunited, forming a friendship which has since led to the creation of documentaries on both BBC3 and Channel 4, as well as influential work with charities such as Rethink Mental Illness and Mental Heal...

To continue reading this article...

Join COVER for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, key trend analysis and industry insights.
  • Stay on top of the latest developments around health and wellbeing, diversity and inclusion and the cost of living crisis.
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletter.
  • Members only access to monthly programme 'The COVER Review'
  • Be the first to hear about our CPD accredited events and awards programmes.

Join now

 

Already a Cover member?

Login

More on PMI

PMI admissions hit fourth record year in a row: PHIN
PMI

PMI admissions hit fourth record year in a row: PHIN

Fifth consecutive year of growth

Jaskeet Briah
clock 10 June 2026 • 3 min read
Private health admissions up 23% since pre-pandemic: PHIN
PMI

Private health admissions up 23% since pre-pandemic: PHIN

953,000 admissions in 2025

Cameron Roberts
clock 02 June 2026 • 1 min read
PMI claims satisfaction rises despite consumer fall in trust
PMI

PMI claims satisfaction rises despite consumer fall in trust

Fairer Finance's Trust in PMI Index

Jaskeet Briah
clock 18 May 2026 • 3 min read