About Daniel G. Taylor, Mental Health Speaker in Melbourne, Australia

Daniel was a stranger to mental health issues until he was almost 21. After a relationship breakup, everyday events became overwhelming. He stopped sleeping and eating—for 14 days.

Bam! He sped into a manic episode, receiving his diagnosis: bipolar disorder.

He went from not understanding how mental illness affects someone, to gaining personal knowledge. Daniel gained first-hand involvement in what young people go through in a psych ward. He wished he could have done without this lived experience knowledge.

Now his perspective has changed. He’s grateful for bipolar because it’s taught him leadership, communication, planning, and advocacy skills so he can enjoy mental health and wellbeing.

Mental Health Services Just Weren’t Enough

Mental health services became involved with Daniel a family member called them after he turned up on her doorstep claiming he’d put the rainbow in the sky. These services were fantastic while he was unwell.

But offered nothing that helped him stay well long term.

Training Himself in Prevention Strategies

For that, he looked elsewhere, to people with lived experience. And as his self-education continued, he discovered evidence-based treatment guidelines that those with lived experience used in their prevention approach.

He recognised the importance of taking care of his health and, through doing what those with lived experience were doing, combined with applying evidence-based guidelines, he stayed well for 17 years.

Regular Speaker at Mental Health Services

As a mental health speaker, Daniel has travelled around Australia. The specific focus of his talks has been on how community members and health professionals can learn from his lived experience, as they support people with bipolar and other mental health needs.

He’s combined his own research and had people living with mental health conditions provide feedback into the speeches he gives.

He’s spoken to bipolar support groups, community events, and to disability support organisations.

Health and Human Services Have Called on His Lived Experience

Through the years, Daniel has taken part in many research projects and consultations with governments, universities, and community members.

Daniel believes that people with lived experience owe it to the community to share their understanding with other consumers through research.

We can prevent more mental illnesses in Australia if we listen to people with lived experience. Families and media can spread the word that supporting people and carers improves the prevention of suicide and depression throughout our society in Australia.

Media Can Show Leadership in Suicide Prevention Through Interviewing More People with Lived Experience

By having a focus on the needs of consumers, the media in Australia can use language that reflects the experiences of people with lived experience and their health needs.

Consumers and carers need training in suicide prevention and advocacy for improved health and fitness for both. Carers play a key role in advocacy, as often those with lived experience can lack the ability to articulate their needs.

My Testimony: How My Faith & My Mental Health Overlap

How Daniel Came to Know Jesus Christ

By the time he reached his early teen years, Daniel was ready for suicide. The foundations for future mental health challenges were in place. Early on, his parents divorced, having an enormous impact on him. Then two relatives sexually abused him over several years.

At 14, Daniel decided to commit suicide. His plan was to head to Flinders St Station and throw himself in front of a train. As he walked towards the station, he said a quick prayer: “God, I’m on my way to suicide. If you want me to live, you’re going to have to do something.”

Well, God did something.

“G’day, mate,” a young man walking past said. “Would you like to come along to this great Christian church I go along to?”

He got involved with the Melbourne Church of Christ that night. And with the blessing of his family, Daniel made an informed decision to make Jesus Christ his Lord eleven days later—a new world gained!

How Daniel’s Faith and Mental Health Overlap

Bringing this back to mental health, Interpersonal & Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT) is a psychosocial approach specifically developed to improve the quality of life for people with bipolar. At its core, it’s about “rhythms” and “relationships.”

The church gives Daniel both in abundance.

Before Daniel Became a Mental Health Speaker Throughout Australia

For the past year, Daniel has worked full time as the marketing manager for the Christian not-for-profit NDIS Provider, the SALT Foundation, gaining lived experience in how the NDIS operates and supports people with psychosocial disabilities across Australia.

In February 2022, he switched to a part-time role with them as a Digital Marketing Officer so he could build his career as a mental health speaker.

When he started with the SALT Foundation, he agreed to put his personal projects on hold. The previous version of this website promoted Daniel’s services as a franchise industry copywriter.

Limited Copywriting Services Still Available

While not pursuing copywriting clients now, Daniel will consider inspiring projects. The only way you can hire him as a copywriter is through Finda.Team.

As a copywriter, Daniel specialises in:

• Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and Conversion Rate Optimisation (CRO), meaning he helps you get more people to your website through Google searches, and then when they get to your site, he helps you turn them into leads so you can sell to them.
• Email marketing, such as sequences of emails so you and your subscribers get to know each other, and regular email newsletters, to stay at the “top of your prospect’s mind” when they think about businesses like yours.

At the Finda.Team site, select a plan. If you run into any problems, book a time and Joe Bellissimo will guide you step-by-step.

Relevant Content for Events Coordinators

His background as a copywriter and marketer means Daniel brings an “extra something” beyond speaking. Not only does he have lived experience with mental health, but he has “lived experience” with marketing. He’ll happily help you promote your event to make it a success.

Since 2006, Daniel has worked as the reviews editor for many personal development magazines on topics such as time management, relationship and communication skills, negotiation strategies, and event marketing.

Daniel is currently publishing all this content on his blog.

Daniel’s Commitment to the Mental Health Community: Using His Lived Experience as the Basis for Improving Other People’s Health

Because of putting his lived experience to work at improving his health, Daniel wants to take consumers, carers, and families on a journey…

… to help the person affected by mental health shift from frustration to hope.

To check Daniel’s availability for your event, please fill in the form below.