Nick Bracks

Professional consultant & advocate for mental health & wellbeing

Stats show that one out of every five

employees is likely to be experiencing
a mental health condition₁. That’s one
out of five people sitting in your office.
Right now. If you’re not sure what to
do about it, we can help your office
become a supportive environment
with an educational, insightful and
downright personal presentation
by mental health advocate,
entrepreneur and TV personality,
Nick Bracks.
Mental Health
Facts
Poor mental health can be
considered an

Epidemic 3

Research shows that

Depression
has become the world’s
leading cause of disability₁.

450M
people are currently
suffering from mental illness
across the globe.

45 %
of people in Australia will
experience a mental health
condition in their lifetime₁.

2
Mental Health
Facts

1Million
According to WHO,
approximately

people commit suicide each

year worldwide.

Suicide
is the biggest killer of young
Australians and accounts for
the deaths of more young
people than car accidents

Depression will be the 2nd

highest cause of disease
burden in middle-income

2030
countries by

4
if workplaces, schools and
individuals don’t step up.

3
We honestly believe that

millions
of small
support
systems
will prove to be the solution

4
The
Mission
This compelling presentation illustrates the real-life
implications of mental health and wellbeing.
Nick breaks down the principles of positive psychology
and key markers of good mental health to:

• Show people the value of their mental health

• Remove the stigma of mental health problems
• Foster a supportive workplace

Nick is able to candidly reflect on his experiences

with depression and anxiety to educate and inspire
people to look after their wellbeing. He presents
an optimistic, solution-focused approach as he
takes audiences through his journey. The story of
his diagnosis and ongoing struggles lead into recovery
and how he made the adjustments, big and small,
that would gradually restore his wellbeing.

The presentation is completely customisable

to ensure that we cover the topics that are most
relevant to you. The topics below are some of the
possible areas we could delve into, but we’ll work
together to tweak the syllabus for your team.

5
Mental
wellbeing
In The Workplace
The impact of mental health
begins with the individual and
extends to everything from office
morale to monetary loss for the
business. PwC research shows
that every $1 invested in creating
a mentally healthy workplace
returns an average of $2.30₁.
But even if you’re on board with
the message, finding a way to
work a support system into your
office culture can be daunting.
Our presentation makes it easy.
Presented by mental health
advocate, entrepreneur and
TV personality Nick Bracks,
this in-house interactive
presentation takes on the topic
with a refreshing approach.
Through stories of his personal
struggles with mental health, a
conversational education style
and group discussions, Nick will
help you transform your workplace
into a supportive environment.
According to Patrick Watt, director
of Bupa’s corporate branch,
50% of all long-term illnesses
relate to mental health. In a single
year, untreated mental conditions
account for 6 million lost working
days and $10.9 billion in lost
revenue across Australia₁.
By investing in mental health
education, your business can
help break down the barriers
of an epidemic that’s crippling
society. In our workshop, Nick
provides solutions that can be
implemented into any workplace,
derived from psychological
research, sociological studies and
his own first-hand experience.
6
NICK’S
STORY
Nick has struggled with mental illness from the
age of 11. What began as a diagnosis of OCD was
intensified by the pressures Nick faced when he
shot to success in the fashion and entertainment
industries in 2010. The years that followed were
a dark time in Nick’s life, as depression and
self-destruction took hold.

These personal struggles drove Nick to his mission.

He has now worked as a consultant and speaker
with En Masse, Movember, Headspace,
Beyond Blue and a number of personal projects
to raise awareness

His mission continues with this presentation,

where Nick draws on all his experience to seamlessly
combine education, practical solutions and unique
insight into the issue of mental health awareness.

7
Discussion
Topics
Nick covers a carefully-chosen range of topics to
achieve widespread recognition of mental health
and wellbeing. Every topic is chosen to promote
empathy and increase understanding of mental
health conditions.

The workshop is broken up with group activities

that focus on team building and peer engagement.
These interactive segments are designed to create
a sense of community and develop a support
network within your community.

Here is a summary of the core modules Nick

speaks about:

• Mindfulness
• Personal stories
• Behaviour change

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My
STORY
Nick speaks frankly and openly
about his battle with depression
and anxiety, and encourages
acceptance and understanding.
He emphasises the importance
of positive social connections
with family and friends and
empathises with feelings of
isolation, worthlessness and
anxiety that are common among
sufferers of mental illness.
Key points:
• Finding yourself
• Losing direction and
getting back on track
• Building positive social
relationships
• Feeling helpless
• Breaking down the stigma
• Overcoming shyness and
social isolation
• Experience with OCD
growing up
• Opening up for the first
time about being depressed
• Overcoming challenges
such as public speaking,
social interaction, etc.
• Helping others
MinD-
fulNess
Mindfulness is essential for personal
mental wellbeing. Mindfulness is
all about concentrating on the
present, enhancing self-awareness
and slowing down your thoughts.
Exercising mindfulness can help
to relieve stress, manage
depression and improve memory,
mood and problem-solving skills.
Ultimately, it aims to increase
long-term happiness.
Key points:
• Eckhart Tolle’s teachings
on how to live in the now
• How to use techniques such
as meditation and yoga
• Mindfulness in everyday life
• The importance of being at
peace with yourself
• Observing your thoughts
and using logic to make the
right decisions
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Finding
Meaning
Mental health and wellbeing
have strong links to our personal
sense of purpose. Our mental
state can affect the sense of
meaning we get from our lives
and what we do to feel fulfilled.
This topic covers the different
ways to define your sense of
purpose and find your own
meaning and fulfillment.
Key points:
• The bigger picture
• Long-term goals
• Philanthropic pursuits
• Internal wellbeing
‘Perma’
Model
Martin Seligman, a pioneer in the
field of positive psychology, was
the original architect behind the
PERMA model, which consists of
five important building blocks to
promote wellbeing. PERMA has
proven to be one of the most
successful models in achieving
long-term happiness.
Key points:
• Positive emotion
• Engagement
• Relationships
• Meaning
• Accomplishment
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Alcohol &
Depression
Mental health and wellbeing
have strong links to our personal
sense of purpose. Our mental
state can affect the sense of
meaning we get from our lives
and what we do to feel fulfilled.
This topic covers the different
ways to define your sense of
purpose and find your own
meaning and fulfillment.
Key points:
• The bigger picture
• Long-term goals
• Philanthropic pursuits
• Internal wellbeing
EXERCISE &
MENTAL HEALTH
Exercise has a major impact on
the state of our mental health.
It affects dopamine and serotonin
levels in our brain, which in turn
affect our mood. Research has
shown exercise can be as
effective as antidepressants
in improving mood.
Key points:
• Personal reflections
• Relationship between exercise
and mental health
• Strategies to incorporate
exercise into everyday living
• Physical and emotional health
benefits from exercise, such as
stress reduction
11
Social
Media &
MENTAL HEALTH
Social media has changed the
way we build relationships and
interact with our peers. What we
see on social networks is often
a sensationalised or downright
misleading version of reality.
These perceived realities can
evoke feelings of inadequacy
or failure. This topic explores
the many ways social media
can compromise mental
wellbeing and what can be
done to alleviate them.
Key points:
• Cyber bullying
• Anti-social behaviour
• ‘Facebook depression’
• Social media and depression
• Coping skills
Preventing
Emotional,
Physical &
Sexual Violence
Federal and State governments
have recognised that social
norms in the workplace
sometimes support violence
against women. The key to the
prevention of violence against
women is the provision of
adequate education and
support services, therefore,
this discussion aims to debilitate
common misconceptions about
violence against women and
increase awareness of the issue.
Key points:
• Understanding the issue
• Acknowledging both
emotional and physical
forms of abuse
• Looking for warning signs
• Raising awareness in men
• Removing the taboo associated
with violence against women
• Preventative strategies
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Obsessive
Compulsive
Disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
(OCD) is an anxiety disorder
characterised by obsessions that
produce apprehension, fear or
worry and repetitive behaviours.
OCD can take on many forms
with varying degrees of severity,
but a stressful environment can
exacerbate symptoms to the
extreme. In this segment,
Nick draws on his battle with
OCD to illustrate how debilitating
it can become and methods that
helped him control the condition.

Key points:

• Understanding the condition

• Looking for warning signs
• Examples
• How to get help

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We can help you create a supportive
environment with an educational,
insightful and downright personal
presentation by mental health advocate,
entrepreneur and TV personality,
Nick Bracks.

REFERENCES
₁ Beyond Blue (http://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts)
₂ Patrick Wyatt, Bupa Director of Corporate (http://www.forbes.com/sites/hesterlacey/2014/03/19/mental-health-at-work-what-every-
team-leader-should-know/)
₃ World Health Organisation (http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs220/en/)
₄ World Health Organisation (http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2010/mental_disabilities_20100916/en/) 14
‘Having collaborated with Nick I have seen first hand his
dedication and passion for making a difference in the
mental health and well being space. Nick is well and truly
a thought leader within this field.’

—Lachlan Armstrong,
CEO, DWS

‘Nick has been an awesome ambassador for Movember.

He’s shared his experience with mental health challenges
with our community as a guest speaker. It’s personal stories
like Nick’s that help bring to life the causes Movember
supports and we thank him for his generous support.’

—Jeremy Macvean,
Country Director, Movember Australia

‘Nick Bracks is an inspirational young man with a huge

commitment to changing children and young people’s
lives. He has been involved with our programme for over
12 months and has consistently impressed our team with
his willingness to learn and grow, as well as the value of the
contribution he makes. He provides a very real “role model”
to young people of how to take responsibility and make
choices that create the kind of life that makes a very real
difference in the world.’

—Heather Yelland,
Director of Green Super Camp