Amplify Speakers
Mental Health Speakers for Schools
Schools are asking more of students and staff than ever, and many are looking for a speaker who can talk about mental health in a way that is honest, safe and hopeful. A good mental health speaker for a school assembly, college orientation, teacher in-service or parent night does not shock or overwhelm. They help young people and adults name stress, reduce stigma, look out for each other and know where to turn.
The mental health speakers for schools on the Amplify Speakers roster are Dr. Kristen Lee, Will Craig, Cameron Mofid, Hoan Do and Ben Nemtin. Each one speaks from training or lived experience, and each centers hope, connection and the message that asking for help is a strength.
Below are the roster speakers who fit school, college and educator audiences, what to look for before you book, the formats that work, and the questions school leaders ask us most.
The Roster
What School Leaders Look For
Safe messaging. The most important question to ask any candidate is how they talk about hard topics with young people. A good school mental health speaker focuses on hope, coping and help-seeking, avoids graphic detail, and does not present any struggle as a path to attention or success. Ask to review the outline in advance.
Coordination with your counselors. Any talk about mental health can stir things up for some students. Plan with your counseling team, let staff know the topic ahead of time, and make sure students know who they can talk to afterward. The speaker should be glad to support that plan.
The right age fit. A middle school assembly, a high school leadership day, a college orientation and a staff in-service each need a different talk. Share the grade levels and setting so we can match a speaker and a version of the message that fits.
Staff wellbeing counts too. Teachers and school staff carry heavy loads. Many schools pair a student assembly with a separate session for educators. See back-to-school and teacher in-service speakers.
Matching the Speaker to the Room
Clinical credibility for colleges and staff. Dr. Kristen Lee is a behavioral scientist, licensed clinical social worker and Lead Faculty for Behavioral Science at Northeastern University. She received an EdTech MVP award for her work on mental health in higher education, and her session Adopting a Healthy Mental Health Culture suits campus leaders and educators.
Permission to ask for help. Will Craig is a mental health advocate, author and podcast host who lists student mental health among his topics. His talk You're Not a Burden breaks down the belief that asking for help makes someone a burden, and shows how honesty and self-compassion build stronger relationships and communities.
Lived experience, told with hope. Cameron Mofid grew up with anxiety and OCD, decided to face them head on, and became the youngest person to visit all 195 countries. Hoan Do shares how he went from a stressed and overwhelmed college student to an award-winning speaker, and his programs include Transforming Stress into Success. Ben Nemtin was forced to leave university by depression, then wrote a list of 100 dreams with three friends that became the MTV series The Buried Life. Each story is about getting through, not about the low point.
Educators and school climate. Shari Collins is a certified educator in two states who facilitates professional development for educators with the National Education Association and holds a Chief Well-Being Officer certification. Sean Fisher holds an Education Specialist degree and speaks to PreK to 12 educators, including on The Role of Affinity Groups in Fostering Safe Spaces in K-12 Institutions, which looks at how these groups support mental health and belonging among students.
Formats: Assemblies, Workshops and Virtual
Student assembly. A 30 to 50 minute assembly works best when it fits inside a class period and is followed by time with counselors or advisors. See student assembly and youth speakers.
College and campus events. Orientation, residence life, athletics and wellness weeks each give students a different entry point. See college and campus speakers.
Staff in-service or workshop. A session for teachers and staff can cover their own wellbeing and how to notice and support students, with time for questions.
Parent night or virtual session. An evening or virtual session helps families keep the conversation going at home. See virtual keynote speakers.
Need more options? We keep this page to speakers on our roster who genuinely fit the subject. Amplify can also source additional speakers on this topic through its bureau network. Tell us about your event and we will send a wider shortlist.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What should a mental health speaker for a school talk about?
Hope, coping skills, reducing stigma, looking out for friends, and how and where to ask for help. A good school speaker avoids graphic detail and keeps the focus on getting through and getting support.
How do we prepare students and staff before the assembly?
Tell staff the topic in advance, plan with your counselors, and make sure students know who they can talk to afterward. Many schools schedule counselor time right after the session. The speaker should support that plan.
What if a student is struggling after the talk?
Connect them with a counselor or trusted adult right away. In the US, anyone in crisis can call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, and sharing that number with students and families is a simple, helpful step.
Do you have speakers for teachers and school staff?
Yes. Shari Collins facilitates professional development for educators, Sean Fisher speaks to PreK to 12 educators, and Dr. Kristen Lee works with higher education audiences. See also our teacher in-service speakers.
Are these speakers right for middle school, high school or college?
It depends on the speaker and the version of the talk. Share the grade levels and the setting and we will confirm which speakers have a version that fits that age group.
Do you have speakers for workplace mental health, not schools?
Yes. See our mental health and wellness speakers for employee and conference audiences.
BROWSE MORE SPEAKERS BY TOPIC
Mental Health & Wellness | Student Assembly & Youth | College & Campus | Teacher In-Service | Education Speakers | Resilience | Stress Management | Mental Health Awareness Month | All Topics
Planning a mental health event for your school?
Tell us about your students or staff, the grade levels and the setting. We will help you choose a speaker and a message that fits, usually within one business day.