Mental health speaker & advocate
A lived perspective.
A wider conversation.
Lauren Kennedy West brings personal experience, social work and mental health advocacy to your stage or project.
Edmonton, Canada · In person worldwide · Online
Speaking
Honest stories.
Meaningful conversations.
Talks that bring lived experience and professional insight together—on recovery, advocacy and the systems that shape mental health.
Lived experience
& recovery
- Living with schizophrenia
- Metabolic therapies for mental health
- Deprescribing: personal experiences of tapering and withdrawal
Mental health care
& systems
- Navigating the mental health care system
- Mental health policy and social determinants of health
Advocacy
& connection
- Mental health advocacy
- Using social media for advocacy
Topics tailored to your audience. Custom video presentations also available.
Consulting
Project & research
advisement.
Lauren also offers project and research advisement, bringing lived experience, a social work background and mental health advocacy to your work.
Discuss a project
Conversations in person and online.
About Lauren · She / they
Experience on
both sides of care.
Lauren lives with a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type. Her perspective comes from working as a social worker and navigating mental health care herself.
As creator and host of Living Well After Schizophrenia, Lauren shares her journey, challenges stigma and explores recovery—including her personal experience with metabolic therapies. Her videos have received more than 40 million views on YouTube.
More about Lauren’s story
In late 2023, Lauren began exploring metabolic therapies, including a medical ketogenic diet, as part of her recovery. She shares her experience of becoming symptom-free and living medication-free, alongside the challenges and possibilities of life with a chronic mental illness.
Professional background
Mental health educator · Social worker · Researcher · Mental health navigator · Host and producer
Community & connection
Lauren has shared more than 400 educational and lived experience videos. She also leads peer support communities for people living with schizophrenia and those exploring metabolic therapies.
Beyond the work
A mother of three, Lauren loves classic literature, the outdoors and long-distance running. She has completed several ultramarathons, is a Doctor Who fan, and is passionate about health equity and social justice.
Speaking inquiries
Bring Lauren
to your event.
Tell us about your audience, your event and the conversation you’d like to start.
laurenkennedywest@gmail.comBased in Edmonton, Canada.
Speaking worldwide and virtually.
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- Event & organization
- Date & location
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- Topics you have in mind
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