Dr. Nii Addy

Neuroscientist, Yale Professor & Mental Health Advocate

Dr. Nii Addy

Neuroscientist, Yale Professor & Mental Health Advocate

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Biography

While growing up, Dr. Nii Addy knew one thing for sure: he was never going to choose his father’s profession of psychiatry. Fortunately for all of us, he changed his mind. Dr. Addy did, indeed, choose a similar path as his dad. And today, he is an influential neuroscientist and mental health advocate at one of the nation’s premier universities.

Dr. Addy is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and of Cellular and Molecular Physiology at Yale University. At the Yale School of Medicine, he directs a federally funded research program investigating the neurobiological bases of depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Dr. Addy’s team also studies the ability of tobacco product flavor additives to alter nicotine use behavior and addiction.

As the creator and host of powerful town hall events, he has also built unique partnerships between scientists, clinicians, educators, faith leaders, entertainers, professional athletes, and community and mental health advocacy groups. In these engaging town hall conversations, panelists discuss topics at the intersection of neuroscience, mental health, faith, culture and social justice.

Dr. Addy also hosts the Addy Hour podcast, where he explores the same subjects with community leaders, scientists, professional athletes, entertainers, faith leaders and mental health experts.

His research and community work has garnered national media attention, including coverage by National Public Radio (NPR), Newsday, the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), The Source Magazine, Chuck Norris, STAT, Relevant Magazine, Proto Magazine and others.

In his groundbreaking initiatives, Dr. Addy has collaborated with Lecrae (Grammy Award-winning artist and New York Times bestselling author), Allan Houston (former NBA All-Star, NY Knicks/FISLL Project), Doug Middleton (Jacksonville Jaguars/Dream the Impossible Initiative), the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the Veritas Forum, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), the Yale University Chaplain's Office, Yale Well, the Salvation Army, Every Nation Church NYC and the American Bible Society.

Dr. Addy has spoken at venues throughout the United States and Europe, engaging audiences through his expertise in brain biology, effective psychological interventions and his perspective as a Black scientist navigating issues of racism and social justice. His talks explore the intersections of neuroscience, mental health, faith and community impact. Dr. Nii Addy works in partnership with APB Speakers for speaking engagements worldwide.

Speaker Videos

STEM Interview | The Veritas Forum

Healthy Minds | Chemical Dependency: A Holistic Approach To Treatment

Why Is Mental Health Difficult to Talk About? | Nii Addy at Dartmouth

How Do We Express Anxiety in Healthy Ways

Complexities of Mental Illness

See Fewer Videos

Speech Topics

The Science of Resilience

We all want to experience life satisfaction and emotional health. But getting to that place is another matter. From the pandemic to ongoing racial injustice to political turmoil, lost lives and lost jobs, the past few years have tested our minds and bodies in profound ways. But there is hope. Sharing the latest science on resiliency and the intersection of brain science, mental health, faith and community, plus practical tips, Dr. Nii Addy—Neuroscientist, Yale Professor and Mental Health Advocate—gives you a road map to living your best life at work and home.

Dr. Addy customizes his content for specific audiences, including:

Business: Dr. Addy will give you tips on how to make your organization and your team more resilient in the future. You will learn positive coping strategies and why everyone from management to every member of the organization, needs them, including:

Taking a proactive approach to optimizing your physical and mental health.
Goal setting.
Finding purpose.
Stepping outside of your comfort zone.
The power of optimism.
Connecting with others in the community.
The role of faith.

HR/Management: Dr. Addy shares solutions to decrease stress-related issues and help your employees and you become more resilient, decreasing sick time, injury and absenteeism, and boosting productivity, creativity and your company’s culture. You will learn positive coping strategies for yourself and your team, including:

Taking a proactive approach to optimizing your physical and mental health.
Goal setting.
Finding purpose.
Stepping outside of your comfort zone.
The power of optimism.
Connecting with others in the community.
The role of faith.

Healthcare: Resilient healthcare professionals are less likely to experience burnout, depression and anxiety. They are also more likely to be effective in their work and provide high-quality care to their patients. Dr. Addy shows you how to thrive during the toughest of times. You will learn positive coping strategies and why everyone in your organization needs them, including:

Taking a proactive approach to optimizing your physical and mental health.
Goal setting.
Finding purpose.
Stepping outside of your comfort zone.
The power of optimism.
Connecting with others in the community.
The role of faith.

Education/Non-Profit: It’s no secret that students, educators and those in the non-profit field have been experiencing a lot of stress, especially over the last few years. But it can improve. In this session, Dr. Addy shares how to build resilience. You will learn positive coping strategies and why everyone needs them, including:

Taking a proactive approach to optimizing your physical and mental health.
Goal setting.
Finding purpose.
Stepping outside of your comfort zone.
The power of optimism.
Connecting with others in the community.
The role of faith.

Racial Disparities in Mental Health

Mental health challenges affect millions of people each year, yet access to care, treatment experiences, and outcomes often differ dramatically across communities. In this insightful keynote, Nii Addy examines how social, economic, and structural factors have contributed to persistent disparities in mental health and addiction treatment. Drawing on his work as a neuroscientist, professor, and mental health advocate, Dr. Addy explores how stigma, access to resources, and community trust shape who receives care and who is left behind. He combines scientific research with practical insight to help audiences understand both the biological and societal dimensions of mental health. This talk challenges institutions and individuals to confront inequities and work toward more compassionate, accessible systems of care.

Audiences will learn:

How social and structural factors contribute to disparities in mental health and addiction treatment.
Why stigma and barriers to care disproportionately affect certain communities.
Practical ways institutions and communities can help expand access to equitable mental health support.

Supporting Employee Wellness

As conversations around mental health continue to evolve, organizations are recognizing that employee wellbeing is essential to a healthy and productive workplace. In this engaging keynote, Nii Addy explores the science of mental health and why workplace culture plays such a critical role in supporting it. Drawing on his expertise as a neuroscientist and mental health advocate, Dr. Addy explains how stress, burnout, and stigma affect performance, creativity, and long-term engagement. He also highlights the organizational practices and leadership approaches that help create environments where employees feel supported and empowered. This session provides leaders with practical insights for building cultures that prioritize wellness while strengthening teams and improving outcomes.

Audiences will learn:

Why supporting employee mental health is essential to productivity, creativity, and retention.
How workplace culture and leadership practices influence wellbeing and engagement.
Practical strategies organizations can use to create healthier and more supportive work environments.

Living Your Best Life

In a world shaped by uncertainty, stress, and rapid change, how do we cultivate lasting wellbeing and life satisfaction? In this engaging and thought-provoking keynote, Nii Addy draws from conversations on his podcast The Addy Hour to explore the deeper questions many people are asking about purpose, resilience, and emotional health. Blending insights from neuroscience, mental health, faith, culture, and social awareness, Dr. Addy offers a holistic perspective on what it means to live well in challenging times. Through science, storytelling, and reflection, he encourages audiences to rethink wellbeing and find meaningful ways to nurture both personal and community health. This session invites participants into honest dialogue about the habits, mindsets, and values that support a fulfilling life.

Audiences will learn:

How brain science and mental health research can inform healthier habits and emotional resilience.
Why meaningful conversations about purpose, culture, and wellbeing are essential to living a balanced life.
Practical ways to cultivate greater life satisfaction, connection, and personal growth.

Supporting Students In Our Communities

Across campuses and schools today, students are facing unprecedented levels of stress, anxiety, and mental health challenges while striving to succeed academically. In this insightful keynote, Nii Addy explores how educators, faculty, and staff can better support the emotional wellbeing of the students they serve. Drawing on research in neuroscience and mental health, Dr. Addy highlights the importance of building meaningful community, reducing stigma, and meeting students where they are. He shares practical ways institutions can foster environments where students feel seen, supported, and empowered to navigate challenges. This session reframes student success as not only academic achievement, but also growth in resilience, purpose, and emotional wellbeing.

Audiences will learn:

Why community and connection are essential to supporting student mental health and wellbeing.
How educators can help students navigate stress, anxiety, and personal challenges.
Practical strategies for creating campus cultures that promote empathy, support, and holistic student success.

Testimonials

"I want to express our sincere gratitude for your insightful presentation at our event yesterday. Your contribution was invaluable, and your expertise truly enhanced the experience for all attendees. It's worth noting that your presentation was not only inspiring but also incredibly informative, as evidenced by the feedback we received. We deeply appreciate your willingness to share your knowledge and insights with us. Without your contribution, the event wouldn't have been as successful. Thank you once again for your time and effort."

- Brothers of Color in Pharma

"While recognizing the difficulty of the topic, your panel engaged in a thoughtful and insightful conversation regarding how we can best address the systemic challenges of trauma and the aftermath impact upon mental health. The positive response and reaction to your presentation and that of the panel demonstrates that there is a recognition that our state and community do not fully and cohesively provide the required mental health clinical services and support. It is our hope and intention to move forward and work cooperatively with the Governor's Office and state legislators to advance a coordinated framework for mental health services for the formerly incarcerated, those enrolled in addiction treatment centers, and those suffering from the combat of the war. Thank you once again for your testimony and voice. It was impactful."

- NJRC

"He was GREAT! I hope someday we can have Nii back, it’s such a huge topic and it felt like we barely scratched the surface."

- Washington Council for Behavioral Health

"Excellent speaker! I could listen to Dr. Addy speak all day! Insightful and well delivered! If I could rate Dr. Addy above superior, I would. Thank you so much for inviting him to be one of the featured speakers!"

- Independent Educational Consultants Association

“We loved having Dr. Nii Addy at MCPHS University. Dr. Addy took the time to learn about our student population and tailor the event accordingly. Our students especially enjoyed the small group time with him, as Dr. Addy was able to relate to their journeys in an authentic way. From start to finish, our event with Dr. Addy and APB was seamless!”

- MCPHS University

"Thank you so much for the wonderful session you gifted our membership with. Amazing information shared and great conversation by all involved. Dr. Addy was gentle, knowledgeable, and generous with his openness and feedback. I appreciated the space created for this conversation. Very well presented! An excellent reminder of the importance of working with students in a holistic way and holding space for students to bring in their faith, culture, and diverse identities when supporting students' mental health."

- Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE)