Latest news with #MentalasAnyone
NZ Herald
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
‘Mental as anyone': Entertainment journalist Jonathon ‘J-Mo' Moran opens up about mental health struggles
'It's been a fabulous, wonderful, awesome career' which included going on sets of movies in New Zealand, interviewing Michael Buble, Madonna, Cher, and countless other big names, even striking friendships with famous people others can only dream of getting close to. That's not what he wanted to do with his time and his platform. 'I've found real purpose in sharing my story and other people's stories around mental health,' he told Bridge. 'I've experienced trauma in my life. Not saying it's more trauma than anyone else, but it's real trauma,' he added. 'The thing that I have is a platform and ability to share that because I've come out the other side. 'I am strong today. I may not be tomorrow, I wasn't yesterday. But I have the ability to share this story.' Moran's goal is to reclaim the word 'mental' and destigmatise mental health struggles. His years of working closely with celebrities helped him realise that truly everyone struggles, no matter how famous you are or how much money you have in the bank. He wants everyone to know there is nothing shameful about that and that, in fact, sharing our vulnerabilities is a strength. Because it is based off Moran's real-life experiences, the book includes some episodes with celebrities, but none of them are gratuitous name-dropping. 'There are certain lines I won't cross,' he said. 'The celebrities that I have touched off in the book are celebrities I've felt a connection with,' he added, mentioning the late Carrie Fisher as an example of someone with whom he struck up a friendship with. Moran speaks candidly about his struggles and says he endeavours 'to show a sense of vulnerability' in the hopes it encourages other people to open up about their own. 'I can't get people to share their stories if I'm not truthful with my own. 'Yesterday morning I could not stop crying. Right this second I'm great. But life is ups and downs,' he said. 'I check in with my GP regularly, I have an appointment with my counsellor next week.' Entertainment Journalist Jonathon Moran's new book. Moran believes the world is shifting and audiences no longer care about superficial celebrity gossip - of which social networks are filled up. 'We're moving back to authenticity, as lame as that word sounds. You, out there, the audience, are demanding more,' he said. In Mental As Anyone, Moran gives the audience what they demand. Warts and all. Mental as Anyone is published by Wiley and available now.
NZ Herald
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Entertainment journalist Jonathon ‘J-Mo' Moran on candid new book and mental health struggles
If you don't see him coming, you'll definitely hear him because he has no issues projecting his voice while lovingly calling most people 'babe', usually followed up by a disarming one-liner. He is also a lovely friend. I can remember once he said something in passing that hurt my feelings. Not only did he apologise, but he also rang me that night to check on me again. J-Mo is incredibly sweet but some of that sweetness stems from a lifetime of not feeling good enough. It was his own mental health journey, which is still very much a journey, that made him want to write Mental as Anyone. It is part memoir and part mental health toolkit, which he wrote alongside psychologist Dr Jodie Lowinger. The seasoned entertainment journalist puts it all out on the table, from the sexual abuse he experienced to his battle with depression or the fact he estimates he has slept with more than 1000 men. It is unflinchingly honest, but speaking to J-Mo said the process was ultimately liberating. 'Obviously, the sexual abuse was really difficult to reflect on because it forced me to relive it in ways I've kind of avoided, despite the fact I've had lots of therapy. The only times I've relived that is within nightmares,' he told me. 'It was so vivid in my mind.' That wasn't a deterrent though, because J-Mo was deadset on being honest and the only stuff that he didn't put in his book was trauma that involved other people. When telling of his own, he realised he didn't want to inadvertently out anyone else's issues. 'There were a couple of things I didn't include to protect their feelings,' he said. Besides that, he was happy to air it all. 'People think I'm this bubbly and happy life of the party, but anyone that really knows me knows I have a dark underbelly … and a belly,' he joked. 'If you really know me …. you know.' Jonathon "J-Mo" Moran's new book. The journalist said that 'everyone is dealing with something' and this book is all about not hiding from it and embracing it. He said he knows some of his honesty goes against the 'harden up, blokey' Australian culture, but that is something he's proud of. 'I refuse to play that game and I refuse for that to dictate what I will or won't do. The mental health conversation has really stalled at 'are you okay?' We need to take it further,' he said. There are also a lot of fun moments in the book, such as conversations about him meeting Madonna, juicy celebrity encounters. 'Mate, I've slept with many people. It didn't really matter! It wasn't about them; it was about me being desperate to show that I had value,' he said. J-Mo said he has even kissed a few celebs in his time, he may not want to linger on it, but he will admit that there was more than just one. 'A handful, only a handful. Let's say five,' he said. Famous flirty encounters aside, J-Mo has now found real happiness with his long-term partner Alex. 'Sex for me until I met my partner was just an exchange. It wasn't something valued,' he said. 'The minute I met my partner Alex I knew he was the one.' The only clincher was that it took Alex a moment to catch up. 'It took him a lot longer than it took me. I knew it immediately because it was a slow burn and we weren't rushing anything,' he said. J-Mo said that despite knowing immediately Alex was 'the one', that doesn't mean relationships are easy or that Alex makes him feel great all the time. 'Sometimes [he makes me feel] like s*** when he hasn't done the dishes but he makes me feel complete,' he said. Ultimately, the whole point of the book, much like J-Mo's comments about his relationship with Alex, is to point out that nothing is perfect. Mental As Anyone doesn't just show how far he has come in his mental health journey, but also how far he still has to go. 'I feel I'm very much a work in progress. The book isn't saying I'm all aces, it is saying we're all works in progress,' J-Mo said. Mental as Anyone is published by Wiley and available now.
