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Mental Health Speakers

 

The stigma about mental health may be slowly fading away, but there is still much work to be done. Lavin’s mental health speakers approach this important issue with sensitivity, respect, and new perspectives on what we can—and should—be doing personally and as businesses.

 

12
Mental Health
Speakers
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James Nestor

New York Times bestselling author of Breath

Even before the pandemic hit, rates of workplace stress were on the rise. Add to that anxiety about finances, job security, and health, and you’re left with millions of people feeling burned out. Reminders to “breathe” during a time of such uncertainty and isolation run the risk of sounding banal. But according to science journalist James Nestor, it’s actually the key to transforming our lives—more than diet, sleep, or exercise. In his instant New York Times bestseller Breath, Nestor shows us how even slight adjustments to our breathing can profoundly improve our physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Jordin Tootoo

The first Inuk Player in the NHL | Founder of the Team Tootoo Foundation

The first Inuk player in history to be drafted by the NHL, Jordin Tootoo announced his retirement after 13 years in the league to give back to the communities he knows and loves. A trailblazer on and off the ice, Tootoo’s talks offer a moving and timely discussion of grit and resilience, goal-setting, overcoming adversity in the pursuit of excellence, and how life can be improved through meaningful stewardship.  
Jayson Greene

Author of Once More We Saw Stars, a Memoir

How do you overcome unimaginable grief to find meaning again? In his astonishing memoir, Once More We Saw Stars, JAYSON GREENE reckons with tragedy—the accidental death of his two-year-old daughter, Greta—and offers a testament of his family’s unwavering optimism in the face of loss. In profound talks based on this “intensely moving, life-affirming story” (Rolling Stone), Greene, speaks about grief, resilience, love, and above all, hope. 
Lori Gottlieb

Psychotherapist | Bestselling Author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone

Stories are the way we make sense of our lives—but we’re not always telling the right ones. Thankfully, Lori Gottlieb—therapist, New York Times bestselling author, and Atlantic columnist—is a masterful guide to editing and rewriting the narratives that keep us stuck. Through her massively popular book Maybe You Should Talk to Someone—now being adapted for television by Eva Longoria—and her viral new TED talk, Gottlieb shows us that vulnerability isn’t a weakness, but a compelling leadership tool; that our external circumstances don’t have to dictate our lives; and that we can consciously create meaning anywhere—at work, at home, and in relationships.
Andrew Marantz

New Yorker Staff Writer | Author of Antisocial

Social media has hijacked the global conversation. We face an informational crisis that is radicalizing youth, sowing confusion, and shaking democracy to its core. For his book, Antisocial, Andrew Marantz spent four years with the two groups who increasingly control the internet: the founders of social media platforms, and the conspiracists, trolls, and white supremacists who use them to advance their toxic agendas. With clarity, courage, and humor, Marantz explains how we got into this mess—and how we can get out. 
John Elder Robison

Author of Look Me in the Eye and Switched On

John Elder Robison grew up with Asperger’s Syndrome, and was undiagnosed until the age of 40. He has nevertheless lived an incredible life. In his new book Switched On, he describes how a powerful brain therapy has allowed him to sense other people’s feelings and claim a newfound emotional intelligence. A leading voice on autism, he implores audiences to find strengths where others see weaknesses. 
Johann Hari

Bestselling Author of Chasing the Scream and Lost Connections

“Every human being has basic psychological  needs,” says journalist Johann Hari. “And there is growing evidence that our culture isn’t meeting those psychological needs for many—perhaps most—people.” In his New York Times bestselling books and the talks drawn from them, Hari’s authentic, personal perspective is changing how we treat and what we believe about mental illness and addiction, consistently  bringing audiences to their feet. 
Candy Chang

Urban Space Artist Behind the "Before I Die" Walls

World-renowned artist and urban designer Candy Chang engages communities to share everything from their greatest hopes to their deepest anxieties in public. In her captivating and intimate talks, she demystifies the creative process, inspires personal reflection, and provokes new ideas for community and well-being.  
 
Michael Landsberg

Mental Health Speaker | Founder of #SickNotWeak

Brash and witty, Michael Landsberg has all the charisma of the veteran TV and radio host he is. Not one to shy away from anything, Landsberg is also one of Canada’s most vocal advocates for mental health awareness. Relating his own struggle with depression, he explains why mental illness isn’t a weakness—and how, together, we can beat stigma, fight back, and save lives.  
Vijay Gupta

Founder of Street Symphony | 2018 MacArthur Fellow | TED Senior Fellow

Vijay Gupta is a violinist and educator whose efforts to merge music with mental health are changing the world, note by note. Gupta is the founder of Street Symphony—a musical advocacy program that empowers citizen-musicians by engaging with communities experiencing extreme poverty, incarceration, and homelessness. The results have been extraordinary.
 
Britt Wray

Science Writer and Author of Rise of the Necrofauna

Britt Wray offers a bold convergence point for climate change and mental health. From changing relationships to land and water, to post traumatic stress that comes with the rise of extreme weather events, Wray breaks down the current ecological crisis and provides the tools to build resilience within ourselves and our communities.

 
Adam Alter

New York Times Bestselling Author of Drunk Tank Pink and Irresistible

What makes us obsessively scroll through our phones, or binge-watch Netflix? There’s a fascinating psychology behind our addictive, tech-based behaviors, says Adam Alter. A New York Times bestselling author and Associate Professor of Marketing at NYU, Alter investigates the hidden forces shaping our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. In talks, he explains what makes certain experiences irresistible, what consumers really think, and how we can navigate the attention economy.