Speeches

 

Since the release of CRAZY: A Father’s Search Through America’s Mental Health Madness in 2006, Pete has been a much sought after inspirational speaker.

In 2018, he reached a milestone, having spoken in every state except Hawaii and in five foreign capitals. He has testified or appeared before the U.S. Congress five times to tell his story and advocate for changes in our mental health care system.Author Pete Earley

As a life-long member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Pete has spoken at NAMI’s national convention and at many of its individual state conventions. He has been a featured speaker at conventions held by Mental Health America, the American Psychiatric Association, The National Council for Behavioral Health, The American Correctional Association, and CIT International. He has spoken at fund raising dinners for numerous community mental health providers, to state hospital organizations, housing authorities, state bar associations, and has delivered Grand Rounds in teaching hospitals. More than a dozen colleges have heard him lecture.

While Pete can speak about any of his books, his primary focus has been a speech called CRAZY, after his bestselling book.

Pete’s passion can be witnessed in this 60 second clip from the opening of the National Council on Behavioral Health convention in Washington D.C.

Pete’s son, Kevin, also has joined him as a speaker, describing what “it feels like” to have a serious mental illness. Kevin recently recounted his rocky road to recovery – how he broke into a stranger’s house to take a bubble bath, was hospitalized five times, arrested and shot twice by police with a taser – before his  “light bulb” moment when he accepted that he was sick and needed help. .

Video by D. J. Jaffe.

Kevin is available for limited speaking engagements. In his presentations, he talks about what caused him to finally accept his illness, how he took charge of his recovery and his work as a peer-to-peer counselor.

For those wishing a video presentation: Pete had a professionally filmed 25 minute speech made for video presentations. This was especially popular during COVID. In his speech, he describes his journey with his son, Kevin, from despair to recovery. After showing the speech, Pete is available for a 30 minute Q and A over Zoom. Contact him at pete@peteearley.com for pricing. Thank you. 

UPCOMING SPEECHES:

April 30, Richmond, Virginia, keynote: NAMI Virginia Family and Youth Summit, contact www.namivirginia.org for details.

August 25, Wooster, Ohio, NAMI Wayne and Holmes Counties, contact jgrim@namiwayneholmes.org for information.