Longtime soap favorite Jacob Young began 2020 with a heartfelt social media post about his mental health battles and encouraged others who might have been experiencing similar feelings to get help. He's closing out 2020 in a similar fashion by launching a new mental health podcast called Real Conversations with Jacob Young.
The actor took to Instagram to share the news of his podcast plans, which are being made possible with the help of Boys Town, an organization accredited by the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) that provides a wide range of youth care and health care services.
Young posted an audio preview of Real Conversations that teases, "I've survived alcoholism, substance abuse, beat cancer, and was married and divorced nine times. Spent some time in jail -- three arrests, no convictions. I've lived through family power struggles, self-esteem issues, three different fathers. All of this was on TV, of course, during my 20 years on daytime television dramas."
He continues, "Watching fictional characters in their daily trials and tribulations is entertaining in TV and movies. Our real life problems? Not so much fun. On my new podcast, Real Conversations with Jacob Young, I'll be interviewing some of my famous friends who've overcome real-life challenges. We'll be joined by mental health experts from Boys Town, who offer their advice and real-life solutions to real-life problems. Boys Town has been changing the way America cares for our children and their families for over 100 years. So you don't want to miss a minute of this informative, entertaining look at the challenges that we all face in our daily lives."
Fans can pre-subscribe to Real Conversations to get notifications when the first episode of the mental health podcast is live.
Young's January 2020 Instagram post revealed that the longtime soap star has masked an overwhelmingly painful past with drugs and alcohol -- and it's a pain that still resurfaces from time to time. He shared that he now has the tools to recognize those feelings and is much better equipped on how to handle them in healthy ways, including being open and honest with his loved ones, exercising, meditating, using breathing techniques, and going for walks in nature. However, he recognizes that sometimes self-care routines don't work, and in those moments, he suggests turning to organizations like Boys Town.
"I too had to deal with suicide in my family. Years ago I didn't know how to deal with it and contemplated taking my own life," he shared in the post. "You're not alone. Personally I keep the Boys Town National Hotline number saved in my phone in case I or my children may need it one day. Don't be afraid to get help."
Young made his daytime debut on B&B, where he played Rick Forrester from 1997 to 1999. He went on to play GH's Lucky from 2000 to 2003, and then took on legacy AMC role J.R. in 2003. When AMC was canceled in 2011, Young returned to the role of B&B's Rick. He was dropped to recurring status at the CBS soap opera in 2018 and has since been pursuing a music career and other acting roles. His most recent projects include Killer Vacation, The Road Home for Christmas, yA, and Angel.
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