Top 100 Mental Heath Speakers
- By Brendan Egan
- Jan 10, 2023
In the U.S. alone, an estimated 52.9 million adults have one or more mental illnesses. Of those, only 24.3 million sought mental health services. That’s less than half. Adolescents are not immune. Almost half of the children in the U.S. between the ages of 13 and 18 have at least one mental disorder.
Anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, and mood disorders are just some of the common mental health issues. ADHD, autism, and phobias are also prevalent. All of these common issues are mental health disorders.
It’s time to break the negative stigma surrounding mental health disorders. So many people have a mental health disorder that it’s unusual to not be suffering in some way. Schedule one of the top 100 mental health speakers to bring awareness to just how common mental illness is to better help those suffering from it.
Aly Raisman knows a lot about anxiety, depression, and PTSD. She spent a lot of time in the spotlight as an Olympic medalist, but she’s learned through the years that alone time is essential to her. She’s a sex abuse survivor, one of the athletes to stand up to Larry Nassar, the U.S. gymnast doctor charged with criminal sexual conduct and sentenced to 175 years in prison. Aly received the 2022 Hope Award for Depression Advocacy honoree.
In 2010, the Texas Rangers drafted Drew Robinson and he debuted with the team several years later. His very first major league hit was a go-ahead homer to secure a win over the Yankees. After he underwent Tommy John Surgery, he was waived and entered rehab just in time for COVID to sweep the nation. His depression and self-doubt took over and led to a suicide attempt. While that could have been the end of his story, it’s the beginning. He triumphed, even with the loss of his right eye, and became determined to get back to his passion, which he did in 2021.
Kate Fagan believes that students should be able to openly discuss mental health. She gained this insight through her insecurities as a gay athlete in a college led by Born-Again Christians, and through the research for her book on Maddy Holleran, a popular, seemingly happy UPenn athlete who took her life in 2013.
His nickname is “Guardian of the Golden Gate.” As a California Highway Patrol sergeant, Kevin Briggs talked hundreds of people down from the Golden Gate Bridge where they planned to end their lives. After retirement, he didn’t stop. He’s a Suicide Prevention and Mental Health advocate worldwide through his organization Pivotal Points.
Chef Andre Rush is more than a very talented chef and former military combat veteran and master sergeant who’s cooked for domestic and foreign dignitaries, White House guests, and the first family. He’s a military service and suicide prevention advocate. He’s the founder of BourBiz Network, a nonprofit organization that helps military vets transition into the civilian world. He does 2,222 push-ups daily to show support for the close to two dozen military vets who commit suicide each day.
Sheryl Ziegler is a family counselor and psychologist. She’s the author of “Mommy Burnout,” a self-help guide to tossing out the idea of being the Perfect Mom and learning to practice self-care first to avoid anxiety and depression.
Mark Henick is the author of “So-Called Normal: A Memoir of Family, Depression, and Resilience” and the host of the “So-Called Normal” and “Living Well” podcasts. He became an advocate for mental health after his own suicidal ideations that came to an end when a stranger talked him down off the bridge. He searched for and found the stranger 12 years later. He’s made it his mission to help others just as he was helped.
Former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf spent time in prison for his substance abuse and mental health issues. It’s a story you can learn more about in Ryan’s podcast “BUST: The Ryan Leaf Story.” He’s used his experiences to help others find the help they need to find hope and overcome their challenges. He’s also a program ambassador for a group of sober living houses. Ryan wants everyone to know that “asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.”
Alison Canavan’s talks and workshops cover important mental health topics like addiction, anxiety, and depression. She’s a former fashion model who is just as comfortable talking to groups about a new mother’s need for self-care as she is talking to corporations about stress in the workplace.
Chris Borland was an NFL linebacker who gained national attention when he retired at the age of 24. He’d only played for a year, but he worried about the trauma of repetitive concussions. After hearing of several NFL players with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) committing suicide, he decided the risk wasn’t worth it. He’s a mental health advocate and founded T Mindful, a company that brings meditation to sports.
It was during an interview on “Off the Record” that the public’s view of Michael Landsberg shifted. Many disliked his aggressive style, but while interviewing an athlete who’d battled depression, Michael shared his own experiences with mental illness. That launched him into a role as a mental health advocate. He and his daughter founded Sick Not Weak in 2016, an organization dedicated to showing that mental illness is not a sign of weakness. He’s won several awards for his role in mental health advocacy.
The 2020 Stress in America report from the APA found that almost 80% of American adults felt stressed during the pandemic. It’s not surprising, but the release of that stress is more alarming as half of those polled said they’re finding it affecting their behavior. Mood swings, anger, tension, and snapping are common. Liv Ryan is a specialist when it comes to stress and the need for self-care. She’s a Yoga practitioner who helps her audience find productive ways to ease stress, find fulfillment, and stop feeling overwhelmed.
Whitney Dodds is the founder and CEO of the Wellness for the Culture Mental Health Organization. As a licensed mental health counselor and licensed professional counselor, she strives to stop the stigma surrounding mental illness and make it normal and easy for people to talk about their mental health. She’s especially knowledgeable in mental health for women, communities of color, and today’s youth.
Tessa Todd Morgan’s a mindfulness expert and Emotional Intelligence accredited trainer. She’s the founder and CEO of Triessence, helping professionals achieve mental, physical, and spiritual wellness. She’s worked with the likes of Geena Davis, Suze Orman, and Sir Ken Robinson and is an expert at helping management and workers find ways to reduce stress and re-energize.
Amanda Gore believes joy should be your strongest business strategy. Joy increases productivity and sales, and reduces burnout by an astounding 125%. She helps workers and leaders find effective ways to work, disconnect, and practice self-care.
Bedros Keuilian is the founder and CEO of Fit Body Boot Camp. He grew up in a poor household where his family often had to find food in other people’s trash. Eventually, the family immigrated to the U.S. for a new chance. His experience with self-worth comes from his childhood and family’s struggles, and he often questioned his self-worth until someone taught him one simple rule that he shares with his audiences.
She’s the founder and CEO of MyWellBeing, an online tool to connect therapists or mental health providers with people who are looking for help. Her knowledge comes from a very personal place as she had a history of anxiety and depression and found a better way to live.
Sara Ross is well-versed in Emotional Intelligence and Performance neurosciences. She’s the founder of BrainAMPED, a company that uses brain-based tools to lower stress and exhaustion, thus increasing resilience, emotional intelligence, and energy management. During a mental health workshop or presentation, the people she speaks to have strategies they can use immediately at home or work.
He was bullied for having a learning disability. He was sexually abused as a child. He went on to become a professional arena football player before an injury ended his career. Lewis Howes is the host of the popular “The School of Greatness” podcast and talks a lot to his guests and audiences about reducing stress, managing anxiety, overcoming obstacles, and achieving greatness.
Alongside actor Rainn Wilson, Shabnam Mogharabi founded SoulPancake, an entertainment company focusing on positivity and human connections. She’s an expert in positive psychology and establishing positive connections that never lose sight of joy, gratitude, and hope.
Amanda Lipp is the chief strategy officer at Peer Mental Health and the owner and director of Lipp Studios. She’s produced more than six dozen documentaries on mental health and social impact, specializing in topics like recreational therapy, mass trauma, and youth schizophrenia. She shares her personal experiences with mental health to help educate and empower others to better understand the struggles people with mental health face and push for positive change.
Lonnie Mayne is the founder and CDO of Red Shoes Living, Inc. It’s a philosophical way to improve leadership skills, customer experiences, and personal lives. Essentially, it’s all about learning to stand out in everything you do and experience, such as a pair of red shoes standing out from the rest of a shelf of shoes. He specializes in mental health, bullying, and suicide prevention.
When he was a child, Brian Bogert was run over and his left arm was severed. He was left with tremendous pain, but he didn’t let that stop him from a full recovery. His skills in determination and perseverance are strong, and he shares his experience and insights on leaning into one’s pain and overcoming it instead of trying to avoid or mask it.
Ashley Whillans holds a Ph.D. in Social Psychology and was named a “Rising Star of Behavioral Science.” The British Columbia Public Service Agency’s Department of Behavioral Science in the Policy, Innovation, and Engagement Division was founded by her. She’s a skilled speaker on mental health topics that range from improving happiness in the workplace to easing burnout at work and in your life.
He’s an expert negotiator in high-stakes kidnappings. Tahl Raz spent more than 20 years with the FBI in hostage negotiations. He’s been in tremendously high-stress situations, but he’s mastered techniques necessary to remain calm and gain success following his belief of taking it “one relationship at a time.”
Liza Pavlakos’s path to becoming the founder of Positive Breakthroughs has navigated a lot of trauma in her own life. She was abused, homeless, abducted, and trafficked. While others may have given up, she rose through it to help others. She speaks from the heart on topics that range from self-love and self-worth to overcoming adversity and finding a path to happiness and success.
From outward appearances, Victoria Garrick seemed to have it all. She walked onto the top-ranked national college volleyball team and became a four-year starter who would break records. During that time, she won a Pac-12 Championship, appeared in the Elite Eight twice, and was named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week. What was harder to see was that her mental health was not perfect. She suffered from severe anxiety, particularly performance anxiety, stress, and depression, and now travels the nation talking to others about breaking the stigma of mental health.
When it comes to mental health speakers, Dr. Corey Yeager has a lot of insight to share about anxiety, stress, and anger. He’s a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Psychotherapist for the Detroit Pistons. In addition, he’s able to share expertise on additional topics like racism and race and how to improve and assess workplace, organizational, and team cultures and designs that support everyone on a path to positivity, teamwork, and success.
Baron Davis hadn’t quit playing for the NBA when he started his own business. He started a company that paired inner-city kids with the mentors they needed. By helping others, he gained expertise and connections with people from all aspects, including mental health experts. Baron is an expert to book for a talk about mental health issues like depression and important parts of everyday life that cannot be ignored, such as social injustice and solving problems in positive, meaningful ways.
For 15 years, Pandit Dasa was an NYC monk. He uses his experiences to help others become self-aware and experience personal growth and development through stress, emotional, and anxiety management. He helps audiences understand how emotions and thoughts impact their behaviors.
When she was 16, Maja Kazazic’s life changed when a rocket-propelled grenade hit her home’s courtyard and killed five of her friends, shattered her legs, and tore her face and arm apart with shrapnel. Due to an infection, one leg had to be amputated, and anesthesia wasn’t possible for it. She was one of three children chosen to be evacuated to the U.S. for treatment. Her experience left her with depression, PTSD, night terrors, and panic attacks. She adopted an emotional support dog and it changed her life. She’s told her story on several news stations and is an effective keynote speaker on mental health.
Both of his brothers committed suicide just over a decade apart of each other and Dennis Gillan used those experiences to take calls on the suicide prevention hotline. When he moved to South Carolina, he started partnering with mental health nonprofit, helping to raise awareness about suicide and depression. He’s the executive director of the Half a Sorrow Foundation and speaks to audiences with humor and emotion to connect and get the audience talking.
Dr. Kris is an award-winning behavioral science clinician, author of “RESET: Make the Most of Your Stress,” and lead faculty for Behavioral Science at Northeastern University. She uses humor and personal experience with anxiety and depression to help people develop skills that help them prevent burnout and support their mental health.
Clayton Echard played for the Seattle Seahawks and was on ABC’s “The Bachelor.” What people didn’t know was that he suffers from Body Dysmorphic Disorder. No matter how fit he was, he always found himself looking for body fat. He didn’t speak up as he associated it with a women’s issue. When he was on "The Bachelor,” he started to open up about his lack of self-confidence, and that helped him realize he wasn’t alone. He partnered with The Anxiety and Depression Association of America to raise awareness of BDD and its effects.
Jaime Komer’s an excellent mental health speaker for student-athletes and sports organizations. She is a former Olympian who offers workshops, speaking engagements, and group talks to athletes who are transitioning from professional sports to a life outside of sports. She has more than a dozen years of expertise in well-being and holistic health, including the use of Yoga, metaphysical energy, and mental wellness practices.
Jimmy Spencer brings a lot of personal experience to his talks on mental health, and that makes him one of the best. As a child, he started experiencing anxiety that manifested through claustrophobia, OCD, and panic attacks. He would have severe dizzy spells and other physical symptoms from his anxiety disorder, leading him to find a treatment that worked. He shares his experiences and solutions through The Cheatcode Foundation, an organization that helps artists, athletes, and musicians heal by helping communities that cannot afford or find access to mental wellness programs.
She has a master’s in Counseling Psychology and gained crisis assessment skills helping assess incoming patients for involuntary psychiatric holds in King County ERs. She helped create Law Enforcement and Mental Health Professional Co-Responder programs in six police departments. She’s an expert in mental health crisis response, hostage negotiations, and de-escalation methods.
Charlie Martin is an LGBTQ+ activist and transgender British racing driver. She knew from childhood that she was trapped in a gender that wasn’t right and experienced depression and anxiety for far too long. It took thoughts of suicide to convince her that she needed to take the step to change into the person she knew she is. As her transition took place during her career, she faced extreme adversity and ignorance, but she’s learned to address them with honest conversations using compassion and logic to help them understand her point of view.
Dr. Debra Warner holds a doctorate in forensic psychology. Using her knowledge and insight, she’s helped organizations like the LAPD, the Department of Homeland Security, and C.U.R.E.-A Better Los Angeles create mental health and evaluation programs. Her expertise lies in PTSD, trauma, community gang intervention, and human trafficking. She’s a co-host of Stop Child Abuse Now and currently focuses on helping male survivors of abuse, trauma, and violence.
In her early-20s, Peloton instructor Kendall Toole’s mental health had her struggling, but she hid it from everyone. She didn’t want to become a burden to others while her anxiety and depression soared out of control. It culminated in her contemplating suicide until she stopped and thought about how her actions would impact her parents. She called her mom to get her and moved back home to undergo therapy, all the while using her dad’s mantra, “I know this is knocking you down, but we will not let this knock us out.”
Morra is the host of “The Anxious Achiever” and a 2020 Webby Awards Honoree. With her guidance, you can take your mental health issues and use them to find success. She shares her insights in her book “The Anxious Achiever: Turn Your Biggest Fears Into Your Leadership Superpower” and “Hiding in the Bathroom: How to Get Out There (When You’d Rather Stay Home).” She’s on LinkedIn’s mental health Top 10 Voice list.
He was an NFL running back for both the Broncos and the Patriots. During his NFL career, he battled alcoholism and was released by the Patriots after domestic battery charges were filed by his girlfriend. This experience and the birth of his son helped him realize the need to change his habits. He now shares his tale with other young athletes and works with nonprofit health organizations on mental health awareness.
Dr. B is a high-performance coach for the Chicago Bulls and the founder of the performance psychology firm Borlabi Consulting. She’s also the founder and CEO of Wisdom Knot, a nonprofit that helps educate children and teens who are interested in sports careers. She holds a doctorate in Clinical Psychology and Exercise Psychology.
Daybreaker is a global dance, music, and wellness program with close to 500,000 members on five continents. Radha Agrawal is the founder of that program and DOSE By Daybreaker, a membership practice focusing on movement methods connected to the “8 Virtues of Joy.” It’s her goal to blend meditation and Yoga to help people connect and find a community that benefits their emotional and mental health.
- Malcolm Lemmons
He’s the founder of Athletes Unheard, an organization dedicated to talking about mental health issues in the world of sports. Malcolm Lemmons shares his insights on the differences between mental health and mental illness and the importance of taking care of yourself and feeling empowered to talk about it.
Dr. Muradian is a licensed clinical psychologist and mental health advocate specializing in ADHD, body dysmorphia, depression, and eating disorders. She’s also a Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional. She works with all ages to identify and find ways to manage emotional stressors. As she speaks four languages, she shares her message on enacting positive change around the world. If you need a mental health speaker about lost connections and socialization during the pandemic, Dr. Muradian is an excellent choice.
She’s the author of “What Your ADHD Child Wishes You Knew: Working Together to Empower Kids for Success in School and Life.” Dr. Saline is a clinical psychologist specializing in ADHD, learning disabilities, high-functioning autism, anxiety, and other mental health issues and helps bridge communications between teachers, business leaders, coaches, and those with mental health issues or learning disabilities.
After a taxi crashed into the back of his patrol car, Jason Schechterle was left with severe burns over almost half of his body. He endured more than 60 surgeries to repair the damage and restore some function allowing him to complete some daily activities. It was harder to repair the emotional damage, but he conquered that and proves you can overcome adversity through perseverance. He speaks to audiences across the nation about the trauma he endured and how he powered through it.
Fritzi Horstman is the founder and executive director of the Compassion Prison Project, an organization that helps raise awareness of childhood trauma and mental illness in order to bring compassion to the men and women who are living or working in prisons. She strives to ensure that once released from prison, people will be prepared for the outside world. You can learn more about her program by watching “Step Inside the Circle.”
When he was younger, Robb didn’t see a way out or a chance for a future. He bounced from one mental institution to the next, never getting the help he needed. When he hit rock bottom, he spoke up and prayed about his feelings of anguish and hopelessness. That helped him climb back up and devote his time to helping others get out of the depths of despair and transform themselves into the successful people, leaders, or partners they want to be.
During military training, Silouan Green’s jet crashed and his co-pilot died. Silouan was ejected, but his back was broken in the process. This left him a shell of the man he was, and PTSD took over. He was discharged and he decided to get on a motorcycle and find himself. He founded The Ladder UPP, a life skills program used by people who’ve suffered setbacks and trauma to find a path to resiliency and fulfillment. He’s also a PTSD instructor and lecturer for the Public Agency Training Council, training first responders across the U.S.
She was recruited by the University of North Carolina and named “National College Swimmer of the Week.” After retiring from swimming, Kimberly battled severe depression and became a mental health advocate. She founded Everything Athletes to help other athletes dealing with mental health issues.
Greg Vogt’s favorite high school teacher committed suicide, and he was in and out of several mental treatment facilities as a teen. He entered college and lost a good friend in a car accident. He battled depression and suicide attempts, spent close to a year in a treatment center, and uses those experiences to help others who feel helpless. He’s a professional mental health speaker with expertise in talking to teens and adults in schools, organizations, and businesses.
Dr. Ana Melikian has a doctorate in psychology and is the host of the “Mindset Zone.” Her talks dive into the pursuit of happiness being a fallacy and that you have to think beyond the pursuit if you’re going to really achieve happiness. She goes on to learn more about the seven blind spots that keep people from their potential and how to overcome them.
She holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Miami School of Law, but Rochelle Gapere also has a Positive Psychology Specialization Certification. While she is a lawyer, she also calls herself a “happiness coach.” She realizes that life gets tough and that will affect your mental health, but she also believes that the freedom to speak up and have the opportunity to practice self-care with mental health days makes it easier to overcome the hurdles.
Jennifer Watson Leadership and Watson Wellness are both businesses owned by Jennifer Watson. She helps people find their “Extraordinary Life'' by figuring out their roadblocks and learning how to overcome them. She has two decades of advocacy in wellness, post-trauma growth, mental wellness, change management, and peak performance.
Serena Poon’s trademarked Culinary Academy helps to educate others to heal themselves and find mindfulness through the foods they eat. It came about after she watched the effect cancer had on her mother and father. She used her Le Cordon Bleu training and nutritionist degree to create her healthy lifestyle philosophy. You learn to support your emotional, mental, and physical health by choosing foods with the nutrients your brain and body need and pairing them with physical therapy.
Cherylanne Skolnicki started her career at Procter & Gamble, but after 15 years, she left to found The Brilliant Balance Company. The company helps business professionals find a healthy work-life balance, strong leadership skills, and purpose. One of her many tips is to practice one simple, necessary activity to take care of your mental health – go for a walk.
For two years, Sam Cushing was a Manhattan consultant, but he didn’t feel fulfilled. Needing to find himself, he packed a bag and left the U.S. for South America. There, he took a job with an Argentine start-up and learned the culture and language. This taught him that sometimes, change is essential to finding your true purpose and happiness. He shares his lessons that four pillars (Adventure, Fitness, Wellness, and Music) can help you with mental wellness and a healthy life balance.
She’s the founder and developer of Wolfraven Omnimedia, a company focused on inspirational stories and causes that focus on making the world better. That’s one of her passions. She helped her husband and Prince Harry raise $1.2 million for a mental health awareness campaign. She’s also helped organize several events to help injured soldiers and their families.
Dr. Mondo is the founder of the Cheatcode Foundation and a mental health coach to athletes and entertainers. Cheatcode is a nonprofit organization that’s helping to end the stigma surrounding mental health and making it easier to access mental health services in underserved and high-risk communities.
A former Olympian and minor league baseball player, Jeremy Wolf is the executive director of More Than Baseball, an organization that helps minor league players find housing, food, and equipment to enable them to continue playing until they reach the major league teams. He co-founded MindReady, a program that helps athletes with mental health concerns. Mental health in performance is one of his strengths when it comes to speaking engagements.
Rudy Reyes’ career encompasses a lot. He’s a Marine Recon combat veteran, fitness guru, producer/director, actor, and author. He helped train wildlife preservation rangers in Africa in anti-poaching techniques, and he founded Force Blue, a nonprofit that pairs ocean conservation efforts with special forces divers. His insights with mental health speaking involve his parents’ divorce which ended up with him being placed in the Omaha Home for Boys. There he learned how to properly handle bullying and abuse.
Raymont Harris is a former NFL player with 15 years of working with athletes, coaches, and staff members. He is the CEO of Elite Mindset & Performance, helping others find the methods needed to improve their mental health and face challenges permanently, not just for a moment. His mental health talks cover self-confidence, empathy, diversity, teamwork, and leadership skills.
Matt Lindley flew the Royal Family around for more than a decade, but what people didn’t realize is that he was also a gay military pilot. He’s both an LGBTQ+ speaker and mental health speaker who was one of the first openly gay RAF pilots after laws changed. His keynote speeches on Human Performance Factors are engaging and memorable.
While gaining her nomination for NCAA Woman of the Year and becoming a Division II All-American track athlete, Ivy Watts was hiding her struggles with mental health. She finally sought the help she needed and uses her experiences with mental health to help others. She’s certified in Mental Health First Aid and specializes in self-love and mental wellness.
Paddy Steinfort has a Master's in Applied Positive Psychology. He took a job with the Boston Red Sox in 2019 as the team’s senior performance coach. He’s a former Australian Rules football player whose skill lies in getting into a player’s head to give voice to their distracting inner voice and show them how to overcome those negative thoughts.
Mariel Hemingway is an award-winning actor and Oscar nominee who appeared in “Manhattan,” “Superman IV,” and many other films and TV shows. Her grandfather, Nobel prize-winner Ernest Hemingway committed suicide shortly before her birth, and her sister, Margaux, also committed suicide. Mariel grew up in a family plagued by addiction, abuse, mental health issues, and suicide. She’s the co-author of “Out Came the Sun: Overcoming the Legacy of Mental Illness, Addiction, and Suicide In My Family” and shares her insights and experiences to help others feel less alone.
She’s the founder of Building Better Futures, LLC., where she helps people improve their well-being in the workplace and their personal lives. She’s a licensed social worker and author of “Building a Trauma-Informed Compassionate Classroom.” Her knowledge of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Family Systems Therapy, Somatic Therapy, and mindfulness aid her in assisting adults and children to overcome anxiety, depression, and trauma.
Grant Parr travels the nation as a keynote speaker on mental health and positive mindsets. He’s the host of 90% Mental and has helped many Olympians, college athletes, athletes, and business executives develop winning mindsets by improving their mental performance. One of the lessons he shares is the PADRE technique: P-Positive, A-Attitude, D-During, R-Relentless, and E-Execution.
Brendan Jordan is a model and influencer who went viral while dancing to a Lady Gaga song during a live news broadcast. At 15, he found himself thrust into the limelight and dealing with the negativity social media brings. Brendan is trained in mental health advocacy, talking specifically about gender identity, depression, and LGBTQ issues.
She’s the author of “Prison Baby,” a memoir about the discovery that her birth mother was a heroin addict serving time. Deborah Jiang-Stein spent the first year of her life in a prison before a Jewish couple adopted her. She uses that discovery and the emotional distress she felt after learning the truth to share how she powered through the shame and stigma to help others recover and embrace their strengths and live a full, purposeful life.
Being competitive means being prepared mentally, emotionally, and physically, and that’s important to develop winning strategies. Brandon Guyer prepared his body and mind before any game, and that helped him play professional baseball and break records during that time. He retired from the MLB with the name “Hit by Pitch King.” Today, he’s the creator of the Fully Equipped Athlete, he shares his techniques to help others become mentally fit and ready for any challenge.
She’s competed on American Ninja Warrior twice. Jennifer Burdis is the author of EduNinja Mindset and an NSCA Certified Personal Trainer. She travels the nation empowering others in schools, companies, and organizations to build strategies to boost their performance, become empowered, and develop a positive culture despite any hurdles they face.
They are a mental health advocate and creator of the Faces of Fortitude movement. It started as a collection of portraits to document those affected by suicide. Faces of Fortitude became a judgment-free, stigma-free space to discuss mental health and healing. Mariangela Abeo was the perfect person to create this movement as they survived a suicide attempt and could advocate for mental health.
Bryan Humphrey is a TEDx speaker and author of “The Truth Always Wins: Becoming Fulfilled and Reducing Stress.” He has degrees in sociology and social work and makes it his goal to help others find self-fulfillment through empowerment and self-actualization.
- Minna Lee
Minna Lee is a social media influencer and content creator specializing in conscious living, mental health, and overall wellness. She’s shared her well-being and resilience messages and tips with brands like Samsung and POPSUGAR.
Injuries received in a ranching accident damaged her spine and led to her needing a wheelchair for life. Ashlee Lundvall continued her rehabilitation in her home state and earned degrees in Public Affairs and Biblical Counseling. After marriage, she won the Ms. Wheelchair USA competition and let that experience help launch her public speaking career and mentor others with debilitating injuries to help them see their life doesn’t have to stop because they require mobility devices.
Dave Des Rochers played for the Seattle Seahawks for two years before becoming an actor. He moved from that to form his own financial investment firm and PATH2HappiSuccess, a company that helps students find their passions and develop lasting careers. What people may not realize is that he was badly bullied in junior high and uses that experience to share his anti-bullying message.
Before the coronavirus pandemic, Craig Siegel worked on Wall Street, but he walked away to help others change their mindset in order to live up to their potential by overcoming adversity, choosing their own experiences, and finding their passions. He helps actors, professional athletes, and entertainers with his popular Cultivate Lasting Symphony method that helps you change your behavior in positive, uplifting ways.
Book Audrey Grunst to talk to school groups, nonprofit agencies, and conferences about anxiety management and emotional intelligence. She pairs her education and clinical experiences and background in Change Management and business to show others how to change. On a personal level, she has experience with eating disorders and went through a three-year University of Chicago study regarding effective treatment through Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Family-Based Therapy.
Shawn Stevenson is the host and creator of iTunes #1 Fitness and Nutrition podcast. He reached this point after being diagnosed with a debilitating spinal condition at the age of 20. He was in severe pain and was losing function in one leg. While medical professionals said there was no cure, he decided to improve his health and well-being, and in the process, his spinal tissue started to heal itself. He shares his story and teaches others how to improve their mental, emotional, and physical health to enact the change they want.
She’s a mom, author, mental health expert, and licensed marriage and family therapist. Kaitlin Soule uses her personal experience of putting her family first and herself second to share the message of “say yes to yourself.” She’s the perfect choice for mental health topics for women, such as self-care, personal growth, and learning anxiety and stress management techniques.
Jill Hollander has a question to ask. “How would you live if you thought you were going to die?” For some, shutting down and grieving is the response. Jill teaches others to use this to reinvent themselves. She was born with a severe congenital heart defect and had undergone two open-heart surgeries, a pacemaker insertion, and treatment for endocarditis by high school. Before her graduation, she learned she was a match for a donor’s heart. That gave her a chance for a new life, but that wasn’t all that life threw at her. She would go through lymphoma multiple times, each inspiring her to live her life to the fullest, and she shares her mindset and insight with others.
Ten years after her sister’s murder, Tanya L. Brown had a mental breakdown and attempted suicide. She rose from that experience to develop the tools she needed to practice self-care and share her insights with others dealing with mental health issues. She travels the nation talking to others about overcoming adversity, domestic violence, and the value of self-care.
Dr. Hicks-Ray is an expert in mental health awareness and treatment. She’s especially knowledgeable in workplace trauma survival. She can help corporate teams with mental health awareness and training and how individuals can get the help they need with mental health issues like addiction, anxiety, depression, and trauma.
Dr. Troy Byer holds a doctorate in clinical psychology and is a certified HeartMath facilitator, court-appointed anger management specialist, and organizational psychology expert. She’s an expert in domestic abuse and created Mindology Fitness, a neuro-science program that is practiced worldwide in prisons and schools. When she talks to audiences about mental health issues, she shares her own experiences with child abuse and abandonment, foster care, and juvenile detention.
She’s the author of “Workplace Wellness That Works,” and a former teacher, community organizer, dancer, and gymnast. Laura Putnam now talks to large and small audiences around the world about their well-being and is the founder and CEO of Motion Infusion, a company that promotes employee health, happiness, and overall wellness.
Arishma Singh is the founder of Thrive With EFT, a company that helps others focus on mental wellness while achieving success. Her skills focus on caring for yourself through ancient Eastern wisdom and Western sciences, taking care of your psyche, mind, and body at the same time.
Tom Voss served with the U.S. Army’s 3rd Battalion, the 21 st Infantry Regiment, and the 1st Brigade Infantry Division. From 2004 to 2005, he was deployed to Iraq for Operational Iraqi Freedom. After returning home, he experienced PTSD and became suicidal. He realized he needed to find a way to heal and started a cross-country trek that was documented in the film “Almost Sunrise.” He’s the founder of Ojai Earth, a nonprofit that helps people find healing through holistic measures like meditation and Yoga Nidra. He’s spoken about mental health to the U.S. Congress and in front of audiences at universities, festivals, and corporations.
At the age of eight, Nathan Spiteri was sexually assaulted for the first time. His attacker said if he didn’t meet up as demanded, his family would die. This abuse led him to a life of drugs and violence before he moved to the USA to start fresh., but he ended up crashing and attempting suicide. He found the courage to speak up about his abuse and was able to come through the pain and anger and use his power to talk to and help others find that same path to peace and self-acceptance. He’s an advocate for sexual abuse therapy, awareness, and prevention both in the U.S. and in his home country Australia.
He retired from the United Soccer League’s Charlotte Independence, where he was their goalkeeper and won the 2015 Goalkeeper of the Year Award from the USL. Coming off of that successful year, Brandon Miller’s next season didn’t go as well as he expected, and that impacted his mental health, specifically his self-confidence. He had to take time away to focus on himself, building his mental health and regaining confidence in himself, both important messages he shares with those who attend his workshops and talks.
Born with Caudal Regression Symptom, a condition that meant he was born without legs, Zion Clark faced many struggles over the years as he went immediately into the foster care system as an infant. He didn’t thrive there and was labeled a “problem child,” but he simply needed an outlet for the abusive situations he faced. Today, he’s an All-American wrestler who holds a Guinness World Record and travels the country to share his message of “No Excuses.”
Chamique Holdsclaw played professional women’s basketball until 2007, but she returned from retirement to play for Atlanta in 2009. During her career, she’s been a six-time WNBA All-Star, a three-time NCAA champion, and USA Olympics gold medalist. She’s a mental health advocate who can speak personally on topics including suicide and clinical depression.
From adolescence, Rob Graves dealt with mental illness, attempting self-harm at age nine and progressing to chronic clinical depression at 16. For 20 years, he lived with bipolar depression disorder, but it went undiagnosed until the age of 44. Suddenly, the help he needed started to take place, with pharmacology helping treat the anonymous sex addiction he’d been battling for decades. Today, he volunteers, works as a project manager, and talks to others about his journey leading him to the successful, forgiving man he is today.
Elita Laya has ready-to-go presentations, workshops, or customized talks for individuals, educational institutions, and organizations. This nonbinary, Black, queer, trans mental health speaker is the Principal Consultant at The Center for Critical Mentoring and Youth Work. They are an expert in education trauma, wellness, and healing and speak openly from personal experience.
Sebastian Lletget is a midfielder for MLS’s New England Revolution and the U.S. Men’s National Team. During a 2017 match, another player stomped on his foot and tore the ligaments in his foot, and displaced bones. It was a potentially career-ending injury that caused just as much physical anguish as it did mental. It would take almost two years, but he recovered to play again. He talks to audiences about his mental health and what it took to overcome his doubts and uncertainty.
Dr. Ford Dyke is a performance coach for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and specializes in performance-based psychology, well-being, and health optimization. He’s talked to audiences around the world about these mental health topics, including leaders, athletes, first responders, and military personnel.
It’s impossible to not feel emotional when you hear Matthew Bocchi speak. He lost his father in the terrorist attacks on 9/11. He was sexually assaulted by a family member. He began his career as a mental health speaker talking to high schoolers in the Tri-State area. He’s written a book titled SWAY to detail his experiences. He talks about mental health and encourages others to speak up and get help as he did.
Sherman Holmes is the author of “Damaged Goods: A Message on Undiagnosed Anxiety, Stress, and Mental Health Disorders in Today’s Adolescents.” He holds degrees in Educational Counseling and Business Administration Organizational Leadership. He’s been a motivational and mental health speaker for decades and can talk to your sports team, school, or workplace to share his insights on mental health.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for ages 10 to 14 and 25 to 34. It’s the third leading cause for ages 15 to 24. End the stigma and encourage adolescents and adults to seek help. Remember the number 988. It’s the number to call if you are in emotional distress. You’re not alone, so reach out to let others know or book a top mental health speaker to show your students, employees, or business leaders know you care and to encourage them to reach out for help.
