Matt Haig

Matt Haig is a best-selling author and mental health speaker who has previously suffered from a major depressive disorder. Having tried to take his own life at the age of 24, Matt has become an advocate for mental health conditions using his platform to enlighten audiences on the issues he’s experienced as well as helping give them the tools to live a positive life.

An award-winning writer Matt’s works include fiction, non-fiction and children’s books in a variety of genres. His book Reasons to Stay Alive became a Sunday Times best-seller detailing his own experiences with a major depressive disorder and anxiety. The book focuses on making the most of your life including chapters on severe depression, panic disorders and how he goes about his day-to-day life living with depression. When booked as a mental health speaker he can relive these traumatic experiences, showing his audiences how he has now learned to appreciate life while still combating his conditions.

Matt’s career has also seen him achieve big success as a children’s writer and he’s best known for dealing with dark themes making them accessible but not overwhelming for younger readers. This includes his book Shadow Forest which won the prestigious Nestle Children’s Book Prize in 2007. Other novels including A Boy Called Christmas and How to Stop Time have been adapted into film starring the likes of Dame Maggie Smith, Kristen Wiig and Jim Broadbent.

In his 20s Matt was first diagnosed with depression and aged 24 tried to take his own life. Following this experience, he realised he needed to seek help and this is something he is able to discuss at length during his mental health speaking events, the importance of speaking up.

When he isn’t working on his next book Matt spends a lot of time as a speaker, keen to help those who are going through similar things that he’s experienced. Always leaving an impact on audiences, Matt’s refreshingly honest and composed approach to a heavy topic makes him a hit time and time again.