Keynote SpeakerJonny Benjamin

Jonny Benjamin MBE is an award-winning media influencer and mental health campaigner, best known for his campaign Find Mike which searched for the stranger who stopped him from committing suicide in 2008. Since such a dark period of his life, Jonny has invested his time into improving the mental health of others. As a mental health speaker, he is dedicated to spreading a message of awareness, understanding and acceptance for not just sufferers, but those around them too. He travels to business conferences and school events, to promote the importance of wellbeing and to champion speaking out about mental health and illness.

Jonny has been struggling with mental health disorders since the age of 10, initially diagnosed with auditory hallucinations. As a teenager, Jonny was later diagnosed with depression, and when he was 20 he was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. A combination of Schizophrenia and Bipolar, Jonny spent spells as a patient in the hospital and was driven to suicidal thoughts. Living to tell the tale of his disorders, Jonny has since created a series of informative YouTube videos that document the condition of Schizoaffective Disorder and his experiences with the disorder. On one occasion, Jonny escaped from the hospital with the intention of ending his life, however, he was stopped by a man named Neil Laybourn, who was later found after a viral campaign entitled Find Mike.

The social media mission garnered a wealth of media coverage, with Jonny desperate to find and thank the man who essentially saved his life. Partnered with the charity Rethink Mental Illness, he raised awareness of the power of words, and how stopping and talking to people about their problems could, in some cases, save their lives. Since the success of his campaign, Jonny has also launched ThinkWell. ThinkWell is a mental health programme, created especially for educational use and has impacted thousands of secondary school pupils in the UK. Jonny has also appeared in a series of interviews and features and presented documentaries for the likes of Channel 4 and BBC Three. Alongside media appearances, Jonny has also authored the book The Stranger on the Bridge: My Journey from Despair to Hope and The Book of Hope: 101 Voices on Overcoming Adversity. Recently, Jonny has also founded Beyond, a mental health charity with a vision to provide improved support to young people regarding their mental health and wellbeing.

Now a popular mental health speaker for a range of events, Jonny is booked to share his own experiences of mental health and illness. He has shared his emotive journey with clients spanning all manner of industries, from academia to healthcare and prisons. Using both film and images to illustrate his story, Jonny has previously worked with clients such as KPMG, Facebook, JP Morgan Chase and Netflix on creating open conversations surrounding mental health. Committed to challenging stigma, Jonny is also passionate about empowering learning on a variety of social issues. When looking for a leading mental health speaker who can share their personal experiences, hire Jonny Benjamin today.

In recognition of his passion and dedication to raising awareness of mental health, Jonny Benjamin was named one of the most Popular Keynote Speakers for World Mental Health Day – a testament to his inspiring story.

Jonny Benjamin and Neil Laybourn deliver a powerful duo session, combining Jonny’s lived experience with Neil’s perspective as the person who intervened. Known for their authenticity, compassion, and ability to connect with audiences, they offer moving yet practical insights into supporting mental health. Their talks emphasise empathy, human connection, and how even small acts of kindness can save lives, making them truly inspirational and influential voices in the mental health movement.