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September 23, 2025
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Suicide Prevention Speaker & Mental Health Training
Looking for a suicide prevention speaker who brings authenticity, hope, humor, and practical tools to your audience? Half a Sorrow provides keynote speaking, workplace training, mental health education, and suicide postvention support designed to help people have honest conversations that save lives.
Dennis Gillan combines lived experience, storytelling, and actionable strategies to create presentations that reduce stigma, increase awareness, and encourage connection.
Whether you are planning a conference, corporate event, school assembly, healthcare training, nonprofit gathering, or leadership retreat, these sessions are designed to meet audiences where they are.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Dennis Gillan?
Dennis Gillan is a suicide prevention speaker, mental health advocate, podcast host, and founder of Half a Sorrow. After losing two brothers to suicide, Dennis dedicated his life to helping others talk openly about mental health, loneliness, connection, and suicide prevention.
He has spoken to corporations, schools, healthcare organizations, nonprofits, conferences, and community groups across the country.
What topics does Dennis speak about?
Popular speaking topics include:
- Suicide prevention
- Suicide postvention and healing after loss
- Mental health awareness
- Workplace mental health
- Men’s mental health and loneliness
- Burnout and emotional resilience
- Creating human connection at work
- Leadership and emotional well-being
- Hope after loss
- Stigma reduction
- Storytelling for healing
- Compassionate communication
Sessions can be customized for your audience and goals. Weird fact—he is funny at times, and it works!
What is suicide postvention?
Suicide postvention refers to the support and response provided after a suicide loss or traumatic event. Postvention services help individuals, workplaces, schools, and communities process grief, reduce trauma, support healing, and lower future suicide risk.
Half a Sorrow provides compassionate postvention conversations, workshops, and support resources for organizations and communities navigating loss.
What types of organizations book these presentations?
Half a Sorrow works with a wide range of organizations, including:
- Corporations and workplaces
- Human resources teams
- Healthcare systems
- Hospitals and medical conferences
- Schools and universities
- Nonprofits and community organizations
- Faith-based organizations
- Leadership conferences
- First responders and public safety groups
- Mental health organizations
Programs can be adapted for small groups, leadership teams, or large keynote audiences.
What makes these presentations different?
Dennis brings a rare combination of lived experience, humor, vulnerability, and practical guidance. Audiences often describe the presentations as the following:
- Honest without being overwhelming
- Emotional but hopeful
- Relatable and human
- Action-oriented
- Humor
- Memorable and engaging
- Safe for difficult conversations
The goal is not simply to raise awareness. The goal is to help people feel less alone and more willing to reach out for help or support others.
Are the presentations appropriate for workplaces?
Yes. Workplace mental health and suicide prevention presentations are designed to create psychologically safe conversations while remaining professional, practical, and audience-appropriate.
Sessions can focus on:
- Burnout prevention
- Employee wellbeing
- Manager communication skills
- Connection and belonging
- Mental health awareness
- Psychological safety
- Supporting struggling coworkers
- Stress management
- Resilience and hope
Are virtual presentations available?
Yes. Half a Sorrow offers:
- In-person keynote presentations
- Virtual keynote presentations
- Hybrid events
- Workshops and breakout sessions
- Leadership conversations
- Podcast interviews
- Panel discussions
Virtual sessions are interactive, engaging, and designed to maintain audience connection.
Can presentations be customized?
Absolutely.
Every organization has different goals, challenges, and audiences. Presentations can be tailored based on:
- Industry
- Audience size
- Age group
- Leadership level
- Event goals
- Mental health priorities
- Organizational culture
- Available time
Custom examples, stories, and discussion points can be included when appropriate.
How long are the presentations?
Presentation lengths can vary depending on your event needs.
Common formats include:
- 20–30 minute keynote
- 45–60 minute keynote
- 90 minute workshop
- Half-day training
- Multi-session conference presentations
Does Half a Sorrow offer suicide prevention training?
Yes.
Training sessions can include the following:
- Suicide awareness education
- Recognizing warning signs
- How to start difficult conversations
- Active listening skills
- Building supportive cultures
- Mental health communication strategies
- Connection and loneliness education
- Crisis response conversations
- Leadership support strategies
Training is educational, practical, and designed for real-world situations.
What are common suicide warning signs?
Common warning signs may include:
- Talking about hopelessness
- Withdrawal from friends or activities
- Major mood changes
- Increased substance use
- Talking about being a burden
- Giving away possessions
- Changes in sleep or behavior
- Isolation and loneliness
- Expressions of emotional pain
If someone may be in immediate danger, contact emergency services or call/text 988.
Does Half a Sorrow work with schools and students?
Yes.
Student presentations focus on connection, hope, emotional honesty, resilience, and reducing stigma around mental health conversations.
Programs are adapted to be age-appropriate and supportive.
Can Dennis speak at conferences and events?
Yes. Dennis is available for:
- Conferences
- Annual meetings
- Employee wellness events
- Mental health awareness events
- Leadership retreats
- Association events
- Educational conferences
- Fundraisers and nonprofit events
- Podcast appearances
Is there a book or podcast?
Yes. He has a children’s book called Nice Shoes. True story about how a compliment saved a life!
Dennis hosts conversations focused on mental health, human connection, resilience, and hope. Podcast appearances and interviews are also available, and check out his podcast called It’s a Tough Subject!!
How much does a speaking engagement cost?
Speaking fees vary depending on:
- Event type
- Audience size
- Travel requirements
- Presentation length
- Customization needs
- Virtual vs. in-person format
Half a Sorrow works with organizations of many sizes and aims to create meaningful partnerships whenever possible.
How do we book Dennis Gillan for a speaking event?
Booking is simple.
Use the contact form on Half a Sorrow or email directly to discuss:
- Event date
- Audience size
- Location
- Goals for the event
- Preferred format
You will receive information about availability, presentation options, and next steps.
Why These Conversations Matter
Every conversation about mental health has the potential to help someone feel seen, heard, and valued.
Many people struggling with emotional pain do not need perfection. They need connection.
Half a Sorrow exists to create conversations that reduce stigma, increase compassion, and remind people they are not alone.
Crisis Support
If you or someone you know is in crisis:
- Call or text 988 in the United States and Canada
- Contact local emergency services if there is immediate danger
- Reach out to a trusted friend, counselor, or healthcare professional
You matter. Help is available.
Contact Half a Sorrow
Interested in bringing a suicide prevention speaker or mental health training to your organization?
Reach out through the contact page to discuss your event, audience, and goals. You can call Dennis directly at 803-712-3247 or email at dennis@halfasorrow.org
Together, we can create conversations that save lives.