Neil Laybourn

Founder of Neil Laybourn Consultancy, Co-Founder of Beyond Shame, Beyond Stigma & Ambassador for Mental Health UK

  • Director of Mental Health at Work
  • Director of Wellbeing Ideas Limited
  • Ambassador for Mental Health UK
  • Launched the This Can Happen Awards
  • Pride of Britain Award Winner in 2014
  • Talked Down a Suicidal Stranger from a Bridge
  • Completed 250+ Keynote Talks

An award-winning mental health campaigner, Neil Laybourn is one of the most inspirational Britons around. Committed to helping people combat struggles with mental health, Neil’s created his own mental health consultancy, This Can Happen. The business focuses on instilling a positive mental health culture within corporate workplaces bringing together practical solutions to real-life problems. In his role as a mental health speaker Neil can bring these experiences to the fore helping organisations of all sizes across the country.

In 2008 as part of his daily commute across Waterloo Bridge Neil noticed a man sitting on the edge of the bridge. Thousands of Londoners had passed by without a second glance, but Neil could tell that Jonny Benjamin could do with a helping hand. Until Neil intervened Jonny was set on ending his life but by taking the time to check on him Neil was able to talk him down and show him that life was worth living. Six years later Jonny created the ‘Find Mike’ campaign. Having forgotten Neil’s name, he nicknamed him ‘Mike’ and was desperate to find him and thank him for saving his life. The campaign went viral and reunited remaining firm friends ever since. In 2014 Neil was awarded a Pride of Britain Award for his humility and was also the subject of an award-winning documentary Stranger on the Bridge.

A former personal trainer, Neil started his own business in 2009 providing bespoke personal training services to corporate city workers hosting group fitness sessions and residential wellbeing retreats. In recent years he’s incorporated mental health into his business. Combining both mental and physical health gives Neil a unique perspective on wellbeing something he can discuss at length in his role as a mental health speaker.

Most recently he’s launched the charity Beyond Shame Beyond Stigma, a mental health charity that educates and supports young people who are struggling. Alongside this, he has become the proud Founder of Neil Laybourn Consultancy, and the Director of Mental Health at Work. To date, he’s appeared as a mental health speaker at over 250 events helping businesses implement effective health and wellbeing strategies.

Watch our Senior Content Executive, Megan Lupton, conduct an exclusive interview with Neil Leybourn and Jonny Benjamin, over on the Champions Speakers YouTube channel.

Official Testimonials

Neil Laybourn is regularly booked to engage audiences at events, read their latest feedback below:

“Just a quick note to say a huge thank you for sharing your story with our Bank of Ireland team this morning – the feedback has been amazing! While that’s lovely in itself, even more importantly is that you will have made a difference to some of our people who didn’t know how they could find the “person on the bridge” that they might be needing to talk to. A huge thank you, really well done and my very best wishes to you both.”

Ian McLoughlin, Chief Executive Officer, Bank of Ireland UK

To enquire about Neil Laybourn for your event or corporate function, simply contact us via agent@mentalhealthspeakers.co.uk or call a booking agent on 0203 9816 296.