The Canadian Mental Health Association reports that two in three people suffer mental health issues in silence, fearing judgment and rejection. Our speakers aim to change that. With some sharing their deeply personal experiences with conditions such as anxiety, addiction, and depression, and others sharing their clinical expertise, all are united in the understanding that opening up is the first step toward building greater awareness, acceptance, and action.

Time after time, Silken Laumann has proved to be unsinkable. Known as the remarkable Olympian who made one of the greatest recoveries in Canadian sports history, Silken has now bravely come forward to share her not just her story of overcoming physical adversity, but mental adversity as well. Discussing the intense personal challenges of her past , Silken shows how perseverance and optimism can allow anyone to embrace the incredible opportunities that often go hand in hand with hardship. Watch her tell her story.

No job in sport is as intimidating, exhilarating, and as stress-ridden as that of an NHL hockey goaltender. Now imagine playing that position while suffering high anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, and having your career nearly literally cut short by a skate slicing across your neck. Clint Malarchuk shares his extraordinary and heart-wrenching life story—including his dramatic suicide attempt—in his relentless effort to help end the stigma of mental illness. Read more about him and his soon-to-be released memoir, The Crazy Game.

An award-winning psychiatrist, Dr. Shimi Kang offers the keys people of all ages need to succeed. With over 15 years of clinical experience and extensive training in the science that lies behind motivation and mental wellness, Dr. Kang is a recognized specialist on conditions such as stress, relationships, motivation, depression, suicide, and addiction. Here she explains Back-To-School Stress: The Warning Signs and What To Do.

See more mental health and addiction speakers here.