Mental Health Speakers

Joe Pantoliano

Emmy-winning actor Pantoliano from The Matrix, is best known as "Ralphie Cifaretto" on The Sopranos. What you don’t know is that he’s a mental health advocate who has dealt with clinical depression and his mother’s bipolar disorder. He stars in the film Canvas, a poignant story about a family's ...

Alvin Poussaint

A veteran of the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. Poussaint is a Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School who is renowned as an expert and educated crusader for the African American family within our multicultural society. He has worked closely with Bill Cosby, serving as an advisor on The Cosby Show, and has ...

Kathy Cronkite

Cronkite’s personal struggle with depression and her journey from darkness to light inspired her to become a tireless champion for mental health education, healing, and treatment. In her book, On the Edge of Darkness, she offers personal glimpses into mental illness by interviewing celebrities such as Mike ...

Judy Collins

Legendary folk singer, social activist, and best-selling author, Collins continues to chronicle life in her narration and song. But, she has also faced personal tragedy with the loss of her son to suicide. Articulating her story of survival with grace and dignity, she shares a deeply moving journey of renewal and ...

Robin Karr-Morse

Co-author of Ghosts from the Nursery: Tracing the Roots of Violence, Karr-Morse presents compelling evidence that violent behavior in children is linked to abuse and neglect that occurs in the first three years of life. As director of The Parenting Institute, she works to provide parents with developmental knowledge ...

Terry Wise

After losing her spouse to Lou Gehrig's disease and surviving her own suicide attempt, Wise wrote Waking Up: Climbing Through the Darkness, a highly-acclaimed roadmap to restoring emotional health. Through her gripping story of hope and personal triumph, she reveals coping skills, pragmatic tools, and provides ...

Brooke Shields

Brooke Shields, the star of NBC's comedy series, Suddenly Susan, is a highly accomplished television, film and theater actress, as well as business woman, author, and model. Shields is the author of The Brooke Book and On Your Own. In addition to her professional career, she continues to be a strong ...

Christopher Kennedy Lawford

Born into the Kennedy dynasty, Lawford was destined to do great things: he became a successful actor, lawyer, activist, writer, and speaker. But he also battled drug and alcohol addiction, and overcame a Hepatitis C diagnosis. In addition to sharing his extraordinary journey overcoming alcohol and drug abuse, he raises ...

Andrew Solomon

Solomon's most recent book, "The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression", has so far won him eleven national awards, including the 2001 National Book Award, and is being published in 21 languages. Additionally, he serves on the boards of Outward Bound (Hurricane Island School), the Alliance for the Arts, the Shakespeare ...

Lee Woodruff

After her husband, ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff, sustained a critical brain injury in Iraq, they together penned In an Instant: A Family’s Journey of Love and Healing, The New York Times best-selling book about their family’s difficult journey through Bob’s recovery. Now, in her latest book, ...

James Gilligan

Psychiatrist at Harvard Medical School, author of Violence: Reflections on a National Epidemic, known for his insight into the psychology of crime and punishment and the prevention of violent behavior, Dr. Gilligan speaks on issues surrounding mental health, violence and other societal issues.

William Pollack

Author of the bestseller, Real Boys, Dr. Pollack brings innovative insight to both workplace and family relationships. An expert in motivating professionals by understanding the hidden psychology behind outward behavior, Pollack addresses the real problems behind power struggles on the job, generating genuine ...

Malaak Compton-Rock

A graceful and inspirational force, Compton-Rock is devoted to volunteerism and focuses on such issues as youth, women’s empowerment, and education. Founder of The Angelrock Project, she works to promote social responsibility and encourages us all to live a life of service. A judge on Oprah’s Big Give, a ...

Edward Hallowell

In the fast pace of today’s business, many of us are often driven to distraction, consumed with worry, feeling displaced and functioning on overloaded circuits. In his newest book, Crazybusy: Overstretched, Overbooked, and About to Snap—Strategies for Coping in a World Gone ADD, Dr. Hallowell offers ten key ...

Eli Newberger

Dr. Newberger, a leading figure in the movement to improve the protection and care of children, is renowned for his ability to bring together good sense and science on the main issues of family life. A pediatrician and author of many influential works on child abuse, he teaches at Harvard Medical School and founded the ...

Keith Ablow

Keith Ablow, MD, New York Times best-selling author, frequent Today Show contributor, repeat Oprah guest and host of his own daily talk show, The Dr. Keith Ablow Show, is the world’s most well-known psychiatrist.

David Satcher

As the 16th Surgeon General, Dr. Satcher encouraged public debate about issues including mental health, bioterrorism, sex education, AIDS, tobacco, obesity, and balancing the community healthcare system. As the force behind creating Healthy People 2010, the nation's health agenda, he works to eliminate racial disparities ...

Richard Carmona

As the 17th Surgeon General, Dr. Carmona developed comprehensive knowledge of the environmental influences on healthy living today. He offers a close look at the epidemic of asthma in young children as well as other issues directly related to the state of our environment and how we can work towards not only a healthy body, ...

Jennifer Ayers-Moore

Jennifer Ayers-Moore, the founder and chair of the Nathaniel Anthony Ayers Foundation and sister to the Nathaniel Ayers, the subject of the book and film The Soloist, is a passionate, outspoken advocate and keynote speaker for the artistically gifted mentally ill.

Jennifer Holliday

Arguably one of the greatest voices of the new millennium, Holliday gives concerts throughout the world and performs with many symphonies across the country. Having lived with depression for over ten years, she found the way to seek help and effectively cope with her disease. She offers the truth about her life, sharing ...