Neil Laybourn

Talks at GS – The #FindMike Campaign: Rethinking Mental Health

Jonny Benjamin, Neil Laybourn, Johnny, Tanya Cushman

Johnny, a young man struggling with severe mental illness and suicidal ideation, was rescued in 2008 by stranger Neil after an intervention on London's Waterloo Bridge that led to six years of separation. Johnny's viral "Find My Neil" campaign eventually reconnected the two men, sparking a global partnership dedicated to dismantling mental health stigmas in schools, prisons, and workplaces across multiple continents. Their collaborative advocacy emphasizes the critical importance of early conversation, practical workplace accommodations, and the power of dialogue in preventing suicide and supporting recovery.