Mental Health Awareness Week arrives at a time when organisations are under increasing pressure to support employee wellbeing in a meaningful, measurable way. If you’re searching for the best mental health speakers to hire for Mental Health Awareness Week 2026, this guide highlights credible experts who can deliver real impact for your people and your business.
What is Mental Health Awareness Week?
Mental Health Awareness Week is an annual UK campaign held each May, dedicated to raising awareness of mental health and encouraging open, informed conversations. Taking place from 11 May to 17 May 2026, it is one of the country’s most visible public health initiatives, reaching millions through media coverage, workplaces, schools, and community-led events.
This year’s theme is “Action,” emphasising the importance of real change, however small. Even simple steps can create a sense of progress, reduce feelings of helplessness, and build momentum towards lasting wellbeing. For organisations, this makes it more important than ever to actively support and enable these efforts within the workplace, helping to create an environment where positive change can take root.
Source: Mental Health Foundation
Why Mental Health Speakers Matter for Organisations?
Mental health is no longer a peripheral concern. It affects absence rates, productivity, retention, and leadership effectiveness. According to Pinnacle, investing in employee wellbeing helps people feel genuinely supported, which in turn drives higher engagement, stronger performance, and lower staff turnover.
For HR leaders and event planners, bringing in an expert speaker is not about a one-off talk; it’s about shaping culture, improving psychological safety, and equipping teams with practical tools. A mental health speaker can act as a catalyst for this shift, aligning leadership, encouraging open dialogue, and normalising support across the organisation.
Source: Pinnacle
The Best Mental Health Speakers to Hire for Mental Health Awareness Week 2026
This exclusive selection of the best Mental Health Speakers was handpicked by Kenny Donaldson, using vetted data from 283 Mental Health Awareness events held between 2023 and 2025. These exceptional speakers have a proven impact at live and virtual events, engage and connect with diverse audiences, and bring expertise that aligns with the key themes of Mental Health Awareness Week 2026. Any of these speakers would be a strong choice for organisations looking to create a meaningful, engaging, and impactful Mental Health Awareness Week event.
- Ruby Wax OBE
- Rio Ferdinand
- Dr. Audrey Allwood
- Fatima Whitbread
- Chris Kirkland
- Denise Welch
- Harnaam Kaur
- Tim Brown
- Kellie Maloney
- Teresa Clark
1. Ruby Wax
Ruby Wax OBE is one of the UK’s most recognisable mental health advocates. Awarded an OBE for Services to Mental Health, she combines humour with neuroscience-backed insight. Her acclaimed live tour and bestselling books, including ‘Sane New World’, explore resilience and emotional regulation in a way that resonates across corporate audiences. As Chancellor of the University of Southampton, she continues to shape wellbeing education. Her talks are particularly effective for organisations seeking to break stigma while introducing practical frameworks for managing stress and improving cognitive wellbeing at work.
Official Testimonial for Ruby Wax:
“Ruby Wax spoke with passion, amazing depth of knowledge and, of course, great humour about the pressures and pitfalls of the human mind. She was incredibly well-received by all who attended. I would definitely recommend Ruby for any event where mindfulness and mental health are a priority.” – HSBC
2. Rio Ferdinand
Rio Ferdinand, former England captain and Manchester United footballer, brings a powerful perspective on grief, resilience, and emotional openness. His BAFTA-winning documentary ‘Being Mum & Dad’ reshaped conversations around men’s mental health. Drawing on elite sport and personal loss, Rio delivers insight into leadership under pressure and the importance of emotional literacy. His sessions resonate strongly with leadership teams and male-dominated workplaces, helping organisations foster openness and improve team cohesion.
Official Agent Recommendation Rio Ferdinand:
“Rio Ferdinand is a powerful and authentic mental health speaker, bringing a deeply personal perspective that resonates with a wide range of audiences. Drawing on his experiences with grief, loss, and life after elite sport, he speaks openly about emotional resilience, fatherhood, and the importance of seeking support.” – Kenny Donaldson
3. Dr. Audrey Allwood
Dr. Audrey Allwood is a respected anthropologist with over 25 years of expertise in migration, mental health, and social change. Her work with Mind and community-based programmes has influenced how services support vulnerable groups. As a Visiting Research Fellow at Goldsmiths, University of London, she brings academic depth alongside practical experience. Her talks are particularly valuable for organisations focused on diversity, inclusion, and culturally informed wellbeing strategies.
Official Agent Recommendation for Dr. Audrey Allwood:
“Dr Audrey Allwood is a highly insightful speaker with over 25 years’ expertise in migration, mental health, and social change. As a speaker she offers a thoughtful and culturally informed perspective on wellbeing.” – Kenny Donaldson
4. Fatima Whitbread
Fatima Whitbread brings a powerful and deeply human perspective to Mental Health Awareness Week, making her an exceptional speaker for organisations looking to explore resilience, adversity, and emotional wellbeing. Drawing on her experiences growing up in care and navigating elite sport, she speaks candidly about overcoming trauma, building inner strength, and the importance of support systems. Her journey, highlighted in ‘Fatima Whitbread: Growing Up in Care’, combined with her role as an Ambassador for Action for Children, enables her to connect meaningfully with audiences and spark open, impactful conversations around mental health.
Official Testimonial for Fatima Whitbread:
“The event went very well. It was a pleasure to have Fatima with us and we all found her story very powerful” – Briony, Senior Claims Adjuster Professional Indemnity, Markel
5. Chris Kirkland
Chris Kirkland is a former England and Premier League goalkeeper. In his talks, Chris speaks candidly about his experiences with depression and anxiety. His openness has helped challenge stigma in professional sport, where mental health is often overlooked. Working with organisations such as Mind and the Professional Footballers’ Association, he advocates for accessible support systems. His talks are particularly impactful for high-performance environments where pressure and resilience are central themes.
Official Testimonial for Chris Kirkland:
“Chris was a fantastic speaker – insightful, authentic, and deeply engaging. His contribution was perfect for our event and resonated strongly with our audience.” – Matthew, Head of Football Relations, UEFA
6. Denise Welch
Denise Welch, known for roles in Coronation Street and Waterloo Road, has become a prominent voice on mental health through her candid discussions on Loose Women. Her long-term experience with depression and addiction informs honest, grounded talks. Through her books and public speaking, she encourages audiences to seek help and normalise vulnerability. She is well-suited to organisations looking to engage broad audiences with relatable, real-world experiences.
Official Agent Recommendation for Denise Welch:
“Denise Welch is a candid and relatable speaker for Mental Health Awareness Week, known for her openness around her experiences with depression and addiction.” – Kenny Donaldson
7. Harnaam Kaur
Harnaam Kaur is an international advocate for self-acceptance, resilience, and mental wellbeing. After facing bullying and mental health challenges linked to PCOS, she embraced her identity and became a global speaker and Guinness World Record holder. Her TEDx talk ‘Empowerment through confidence’ has inspired audiences worldwide. Harnaam’s message is particularly relevant for organisations focused on inclusion, confidence, and psychological safety.
Official Testimonial for Harnaam Kaur:
“1 word – INCREDIBLE!!!!!!! Harnaam was her true beautiful self and dropped gem after gem and had the audience screaming in the comments in agreeance. She was fantastic! Loads of great feedback – it’s what they needed, Harnaam for Prime Minister, she needs to go to schools and teach this. A fantastic session! Thank you for your help coordinating this!” – Nat, LexisNexis Risk Solutions
8. Tim Brown
Tim Brown, a former FDNY firefighter and 9/11 survivor, brings a profound perspective on trauma, leadership, and recovery. His experience responding to one of the most significant crises in modern history informs his approach to resilience and post-traumatic growth. As founder of The Families, Inc., he supports victims’ families while educating organisations on empathy and leadership under pressure. His talks are particularly impactful for leadership teams navigating uncertainty and change.
Official Testimonial for Tim Brown:
“Tim Brown offers a deeply moving and impactful voice for organisations focused on resilience, leadership, and recovery under pressure. Drawing on his experience responding to the events of the September 11 attacks, he shares powerful insights into trauma, post-traumatic growth, and the importance of empathy in leadership.” – Kenny Donaldson
9. Kellie Maloney
Kellie Maloney, former boxing promoter and manager of Lennox Lewis, is a leading voice on diversity, inclusion, and mental health. Since coming out as transgender in 2014, she has shared her journey to raise awareness of identity, stigma, and mental well-being. Her story offers valuable insight for organisations working to build inclusive cultures and support employees through personal challenges.
Official Testimonial for Kellie Maloney:
“Kellie you have been amazing! You touched the team deeply and plenty of them are extremely happy to have had the chance to talk to you… You need to know that you are an inspiration!” – Platform
10. Teresa Clark
Teresa Clark, founder of The Wellness Revolution, specialises in transforming workplace culture to support human flourishing. With experience across the NHS, corporate, and charity sectors, she brings both strategic and operational insight. Recognised as one of the UK’s influential mental health role models in business, Teresa delivers practical frameworks that help organisations embed wellbeing into leadership and performance strategies.
Official Testimonial for Teresa Clark:
“I attended a talk she delivered recently regarding the importance of workplace mental health – not only was it a personal account but also very thought-provoking, and Teresa was helpful in sharing ideas employers can take to safeguard the wellbeing of their employees. Highly recommend.” – Bill, Associate Partner, Pannone Corporate
How do I choose the right speaker for Mental Health Awareness Week?
Look for speakers who combine lived experience with professional credibility. Consider your audience; senior leaders may need strategic insight, while wider teams may benefit from relatable storytelling. The best mental health speakers tailor their message to organisational challenges such as burnout, inclusion, or resilience under pressure, so it helps to have a sense of what you’d like to achieve with your event, the kind of impact you’re hoping for, and how you’d like your audience to feel and respond afterwards.
Hire a Mental Health Speaker for Mental Health Awareness Week Today!
Choosing The Best Mental Health Speaker to Hire for Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 is a strategic decision. The right speaker can influence culture, improve engagement, and support long-term business performance. Organisations that invest in credible voices position themselves to respond effectively to evolving workforce expectations.
If you are interested in hiring a mental health speaker, after–dinner speaker, comedian, host or presenter, contact us today by calling us on 02039580428, or alternatively, fill out our online contact form. Contact us today by calling us on 02039580428, or alternatively, fill out our online contact form.
