Sir JK opens up with Attitude

Sir JK opens up with Attitude

New Zealanders will get a special look inside Sir John Kirwan’s world in Italy in a programme on TVONE this Sunday, June 17.

Tanya Black, associate producer and co-host of the television series ‘Attitude’ (Sunday TVONE at 8:30 am), visited the Kirwan family just prior to Sir John, or “JK” as he prefers to be known, getting his knighthood for services to mental health.

Tanya and the Attitude crew were able to talk to JK in more depth about his experience with anxiety and depression and what motivated him to share his story. They follow him on a trip to his local produce market, cook a curry with him for his kids and watch him play rugby with his son Luca. JK says these are all part of his ‘daily wellness’ – a way for him to stop and do things he enjoys which help him stay healthy.

Tanya says it wasn’t until she started talking about doing this and other stories about mental illness that she realised the impact JK has made on the lives of Kiwis.

“I know that JK is very humbled to hear people’s stories and is keen that everyone continues to talk openly about mental illness,” says Tanya. “This is why he let us into his private world to discuss his experiences in more detail and demonstrate his recipe for wellness.”

Thousands of people have been able to address their own story of living with depression after this rugby legend opened up and shared his experiences. Sir John is attributed with having changed attitudes and public perceptions towards mental illness through the Government’s National Depression Initiative started in 2006.

Initially his role was one part of a combined approach but the advertising campaign, coupled with the release of his book All Blacks Don’t Cry, soon established him as the change-maker and driving force of the campaign.

“Many people I spoke to told me his contribution to the National Depression Initiative and especially how his book had been a life line when they were in a very dark place,” says Tanya.

Attitude Pictures Ltd (APL) is the world’s leading provider of television content about the lives of people living with disability and represents the voices of one billion people.

The series covers everything from teenagers to parenting, pediatricians to prisoners, rescue services, crime, surrogacy, obesity, cancer and a wide range of content all relating to disability.

The company, led by Robyn Scott-Vincent, is also one of New Zealand’s most respected documentary production companies. A former news and current affairs journalist and author, Robyn has produced more than 50 prime time documentaries and 290 episodes of APL’s series Attitude.

The show has a global perspective with episodes produced from the most remote corners of New Zealand to Asia, Europe, America and the Pacific Islands.

Ends

© Scoop Media