David Woods Bartley
David Woods Bartley is a globally recognized mental health advocate who has delivered over 800 presentations across four continents. A two-time TEDx speaker and Steinberg Institute Mental Health Champion, David shares his journey from mental “hellness” to mental wellness, inspiring diverse audiences to transform their approach to mental health. His mission is to bring conversations about mental health into the open, offering hope and practical strategies for individuals and organizations.
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David Woods Bartley's 2025 biography
About David Woods Bartley
David Woods Bartley has seen his fair share of successes and setbacks, from directing a nationally recognized nonprofit to battling the long-term effects of childhood sexual trauma and a life-threatening mental illness. The latter, a brutal knock-down, drag-out fight with clinical depression, led David to a suicide attempt.
Thanks to the support of many people and being shown the necessity of putting one’s self-care on a pedestal, David continues the essential yet challenging journey from the isolation of mental “hellness” to the inclusive space of mental wellness.
His life having been saved, David is committed to moving the conversation about suicide, male sexual trauma, and mental illness from the dark shadows where they now live to the forefront of public concern. In doing so, his mission is to shine a bright light on the crisis we now face and open doors to the possibility of mental health for everyone, everywhere.
Currently, David is a member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the International Association for Youth Mental Health, and the National Storytelling Network’s Healing Story Alliance. In addition, David holds certifications in Mental Health First Aid for Adults and Youth, SafeTALK (Suicide Awareness for Everyone), and the suicide prevention technique known as QPR (Question, Persuade, and Refer).
In addition to giving two TED talks, being named a 2021 Mental Health Champion by the prestigious Steinberg Institute, and being recognized as a global thought leader, David has presented more than 800 times to audiences across the United States, Canada, Central America, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, and India, giving in-person and virtual presentations on the subjects of suicide, resiliency, male sexual trauma, mental health, organizational culture, and servant leadership.
Some of the organizations David has been invited to present to include tens of thousands of service members of the Army, Coast Guard, Airforce, and Marine Corps, the Food and Drug Administration, NASA, the Veterans Administration, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, Sutter Health, the California Highway Patrol, the Indiana Organization for Nursing Leadership, the University of Connecticut, Boston College, Boston University, the California Northstate School of Medicine, and a wide range of elementary, middle and high schools, community organizations, and diverse faith denominations.
David Woods Bartley's 2025 talks & topics
Sometimes what hurts the most can’t be seen; but, sometimes what helps the most is easy to do.
This talk serves as an excellent introductory talk about mental health by detailing my lived
experience with depression.
Questions Answered:
- What was the cause of my mental illness?
- What have I learned about mental illness and mental health?
- What can we do to help ourselves and others?
Key Takeaways:
- Mental illness is typically caused by a combination of factors.
- Mental illness is never the choice or fault of the individual.
- Mental health is achievable, and connection is the foundation.
From mental “hellness” to mental wellness; a journey of understanding, surrender, and acceptance.
This talk highlights the three signposts found on a quest from mental illness to mental health.
Questions Answered
- What are the components of understanding?
- When is it time to surrender and how to do so?
- Why is acceptance so critical to mental health?
Key Takeaways:
- Understanding is about becoming aware, educated and willing.
- The key difference between giving up and surrender.
- The importance of accepting personal responsibility to do the work of wellness and accepting help from others.
Remodeling a life dived into a life united; using whole person care to build and sustain mental health
The talk highlights the impact of mental illness on the whole of a person, and then outlines a way in which a life can be rebuilt into one that is characterized by and decorated with mental health.
Questions Answered
- How much does mental illness impact us?
- What can we do to counter the wide ranging negative influence?
- Is it possible to experience true mental health?
Key Takeaways:
- Mental illness impacts our body, our mind and our spirit.
- Mental health can only happen if we take care of the same, and only if we make our personal wellness the top priority in our lives.
- Mental illness causes great harm to our life, severely impacting our foundation and structure. But, it is possible to remodel our life into one that is characterized by mental health.
Moving from isolation to inclusion using the power of connection; 3 simple ways to unite with others.
Connection is the foundation of mental health, and while important to our wellbeing, many feel they don’t know how to create it. The workshop teaches three methods that are easy to learn and highly effective at creating connection with others for mutual benefit.
Learning Objectives:
- By the end of the workshop, participants will learn:
- A method for consistently remembering a person’s name.
- The importance of questions and what kinds to ask.
- The do’s, don’ts and power of the handwritten note.
Putting your self-care on a pedestal; 3 steps to creating a wellness plan.
Self-care is the foundation of mental health, and the workshop teaches students the why, what, and how of creating a personalized plan for holistic wellness.
Learning Objectives
- By the end of the workshop, participants will learn:
- Why self-care is critical to mental health.
- How to define their individual and personal needs.
- Create a personalized wellness plan for each area of need.
I don’t know what to say; learning the language of mental health
Words have great power, and those in need stand to suffer when we say the wrong thing but can benefit when we chose to use the right words to express our concern and support.
Learning Objectives
- By the end of the workshop, participants will learn:
- The types of statements that are most harmful to make.
- How to create a safe space so a person can freely share.
- The types of statements that are most beneficial.