Doyin Richards

This is the last time I’ll talk about this, I promise. You’ll find the recording of my global keynote speech for the United Nations World Mental Health Day event below.

Fast-Forward to the 25-minute mark and my speech will start. I also was tasked with providing closing remarks at the end, so check that out too.

Thank you for the kind words and support. I’ll never forget this opportunity 🙏🏾

Https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k17/k17a5p86ct?fbclid=PAdGRleANcjGhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABpy57lbd_90nkg11Hmj13hJSp27WAZX5GN6wUlgmVWkHMaVHSq_qg8hsnR5HM_aem_XyO7Qb4vmEVMLGSBo3nfLg

If you’re in need of some inspiration, this should help.

Two years ago (almost to the day), I concluded a keynote speech at Michigan State University and a woman in the audience said I’d be a great therapist. On the flight home to Los Angeles I gave it some thought and decided to apply to graduate school for Clinical Psychology. I was incredibly nervous, but I knew I could help many people with their mental health challenges - especially people who struggled with suicidal ideation, like I did.

So on January 2, 2024 at the ripe old age of 49, I entered my first graduate school class with students half my age. As a single dad of two in the middle of a divorce, my mental health was TRASH, but I read every book, completed every assignment, and wrote every research paper as if my non-existent hair was on fire. Two months from now I’ll graduate.

But that’s not the headline.

World Mental Health Day (WMHD) is approaching on Friday October 10, and the United Nations asked me to be the keynote speaker for its WMHD event in NYC on 10/14. If someone told the dude who was scared as hell on 1/2/2024 during his first graduate class that he’d deliver one of the world’s most prestigious mental health keynote speeches for the “U freaking N” less than two years later, I’d say they were insane. But here we are.

I don’t have a powerful speaker bureau booking gigs for me. I don’t have a bunch of friends in high places. I’m just a team of one who believes in my ability to inspire the world. Now I’ll have the opportunity to literally do just that next week. You can watch me live on UNTV (United Nations TV) if you so desire.

“Impossible” is just another item on the to-do list 👊🏾

Dad Edition. No, I’m not going back to school, but my kids are, FINALLY.

(And not only do I read banned books, I write them too 📚)

My kid insisted that we stop here. Now we’re in line to see what the fuss is all about 🍩