The introduction of a new infectious disease can be a trigger for stress and anxiety. The necessary measures to prevent the spread of disease, such as social distancing, can lead to increased anxiety and worry.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, finding healthy ways to cope with stress is more important than ever. These mental health speakers are experts on healthy mental practices and advocate for proper emotional and mental care.
1. Andrea Paquette
Andrea Paquette is the president and founder of the Stigma-Free Society in Canada. She created the Bipolar Babe Project in 2009, a place to connect and find valuable mental health information. Paquette is passionate about educating today’s youth in schools and adults in their communities about the stigma surrounding mental health and other societal stigmas that negatively affect people’s perceptions of themselves and others. She shares her passionate personal story of struggle and triumph since her bipolar disorder diagnosis in 2005 throughout for a variety of audiences internationally.
2. Kevin Hines
Kevin Hines is an award-winning brain/mental health and suicide prevention activist, entrepreneur, multiple award-winning filmmaker, best-selling author, and international educator. As a speaker, he reaches audiences with his story of an unlikely survival and his strong will to live. Two years after he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, he attempted to take his life by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge. After surviving the jump, he began to advocate for mental health policy efforts and greater awareness.
3. Maurice Clarett
Maurice Clarett is a former American football running back who played for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team. While spending almost four years in prison, Clarett shifted his attention to develop his mind by reading psychology books and as much business-related literature as he could, and managed to turn his life around. Having suffered from depression, Clarett joined other mental health advocates in August 2013 in promoting expansion of Medicaid in Ohio. He has spoken at prisons, juvenile detention facilities and worked with youth football camps to share his story to inspire others. In 2016, Clarett founded The Red Zone, a behavioral health agency that provides mental health services, addiction and recovery services, school-based social work, and many other services.
4. Jenn Lim
Jenn Lim is the fearless, innovative CEO and co-founder of Delivering Happiness. From her 20+ years of lessons learned in culture and consulting, the proven results from transforming company cultures come back to her simple mission: to inspire science-based happiness, passion, and purpose at work, home, and in everyday life.
5. Dixon Chibanda
Dixon Chibanda is a professor in psychiatry and the director of the African Mental Health Initiative (AMARI). He works at the Friendship Bench program, a cognitive-behavioral therapy-based approach to depression. At the Friendship Bench, patients receive individual problem-solving therapy from a specifically trained lay health worker which has been successfully scaled up in Zimbabwe and introduced to other countries. He likes to think outside the box as he explores new ways of helping people with conditions such as depression, PTSD and ADHD.
6. Jodie Sweetin
Entrepreneur, actress, producer and author, Jodie Sweetin garnered the love of millions in her role as Stephanie Tanner on ABC’s long-running, hugely popular sitcom “Full House.” She released a memoir entitled “unSweetined” where she detailed her history with alcohol and drug addiction. She regularly advocates for mental health and drug abuse awareness, especially in the lives of young people.
7. Dr. Christian Conte
Dr. Christian Conte is one of the country’s most accomplished specialists in compassionate leadership and communications. His prodigious background in mental health and emotional management enables him to bring a unique and compelling perspective to his presentations, as well as providing valuable tools to action for his audience.
8. Sahar Paz
Sahar Paz is an author, professional speaker, personal branding expert and the CEO of Own Your Voice Strategy Firm. A fear of incompetency and a sense of inferiority and worthlessness pervaded Paz’s thoughts and filled her with anxiety so severe that she eventually attempted suicide several times. Desperate to stay alive, she sought inpatient treatment at a psychiatric facility where she received the standard treatments of antidepressants, but also received talk therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, and yoga. While her story is not an easy one, Paz explores her relationship with suicide and her choice to follow the path of her pain until she could find the way out.
9. Herschel Walker
Herschel Walker is an American former professional football player. He played football for the University of Georgia and then for several teams in the NFL, notably the Dallas Cowboys. Walker discusses his dissociative identity disorder and ways to help change the conversation about mental health, and encourages those who struggle with their mental wellbeing to ask for help.
10. Dr. Delaney Ruston
Dr. Delaney Ruston is a filmmaker, Stanford trained physician, and international speaker who makes documentaries to foster social change. She is the creator of the award-winning films, Screenagers, about solutions for healthy screen time and Screenagers NEXT CHAPTER, about improving the emotional wellbeing of today’s youth. Ruston has partnered with groups such as the World Health Organization to create advocacy campaigns and has won several awards for her efforts.
Promoting self-care and mental health awareness is more important now than ever. These mental health speakers are just a few of the experts and advocates that could speak at your next event.
See a full list of inspirational mental health speakers.
