Bestselling New Zealand author and public speaker on resilience Jake Bailey is returning to Queenstown Lakes next week with free speaking events in Wānaka, Queenstown and Cromwell ahead of Mental Health Awareness Week.

Diagnosed with the most aggressive form of cancer in 2015 and given just weeks to live if it went untreated, Jake’s school prize-giving speech from a wheelchair went ‘viral’.  

Now in remission and living overseas, Jake works full time on the psychology of resilience and has shared his strategies and research with more than 85,000 people, including corporations, organisations and schools around the world. 

Jake’s speaking events are presented by Te Hau Toka Southern Lakes Wellbeing Group and supported by Central Lakes Trust.

“Over the past few years this region has faced, and continues to face, its fair share of adversity,” Jake said, “so it’s great to see people get behind this effort to provide people with practical tools and skills to help them overcome some of those challenges.”

The Wānaka event will take place on Friday September 15, just days before Mental Health Awareness Week (September 18-24) begins.

Te Hau Toka’s Central Lakes mental wellbeing navigator Ella Hitchcock will be on hand at the event, with plenty of local and science-backed advice and take-home learnings on the ‘five ways to wellbeing’ - this year’s theme.

The five ways to wellbeing are five evidence-backed actions that individuals can build into their day-to-day lives to support mental wellbeing.

“This is about finding all the good stuff for you that’s in your community, and fitting it into your life so that your mental health is a resource you can use when you need it, not a goal you never reach,” Ella said.

The Wānaka event will take place at the private function room at the Albie Tavern in Albert Town from 5.30-7pm on Friday September 15, following an event in Queenstown (September 13) and Cromwell (September 14).

Book your ticket here.

PHOTO: Supplied