Owen O’Kane

Owen O'Kane is a Sunday Times bestselling author, former NHS mental health clinical leader, and BBC Radio 5Live resident mental health expert delivering transformational keynote presentations on resilience, mental wellbeing, and managing uncertainty. His down-to-earth, humorous approach to serious mental health topics has resonated with audiences across corporate, healthcare, educational, and public sector organisations. With three bestselling books—"Ten to Zen," "How to Be Your Own Therapist," and "Ten Times Happier"—Owen brings clinical credibility combined with authentic personal narrative and practical mental health tools audiences can implement immediately. About Owen O'Kane Owen's career spans mental health clinical leadership, therapeutic practice, mental wellness advocacy, and mental health media expertise. As a former NHS mental health clinical leader, he brings evidence-based clinical understanding grounded in direct patient care experience. His role as BBC Radio 5Live's resident mental health expert—a position requiring significant media credibility and communication skill—has established him as a trusted voice on wellbeing and mental health topics for millions of listeners. His personal background profoundly shapes his perspective and credibility. Growing up in Northern Ireland during "the troubles," Owen developed deep understanding of resilience, adversity, trauma, and finding hope in genuinely challenging circumstances. This lived experience with genuine hardship informs his speaking authentically—he understands that resilience requires more than positive thinking; it requires practical frameworks grounded in real experience. His earlier career in palliative care reflects his deep commitment to supporting individuals through life's most challenging experiences. This clinical foundation in supporting people navigating loss, grief, and profound uncertainty provided the foundation for his contemporary work in mental wellbeing and resilience coaching. Owen's author credentials establish him definitively as a thought leader in mental health and wellbeing. His books—"Ten to Zen," "How to Be Your Own Therapist," and "Ten Times Happier"—have achieved Sunday Times bestseller status, indicating significant reader engagement and mainstream recognition. His publishing success demonstrates his ability to translate complex mental health concepts into accessible, actionable resources people genuinely use. His communication style is distinctive: humorous, relatable, humanising, and normalising mental health struggles whilst providing concrete tools and frameworks. He demystifies therapy, makes mental health accessible to mainstream audiences, and positions wellbeing not as luxury but as essential organisational and individual practice. Key Achievements & Awards Sunday Times bestselling author: "Ten to Zen," "How to Be Your Own Therapist," "Ten Times Happier" Former NHS mental health clinical leader BBC Radio 5Live resident mental health expert Palliative care background in supporting individuals through profound life transitions Resilience expert drawing on personal experience navigating "the troubles" in Northern Ireland Trusted mental health voice reaching millions through broadcast media Clinical expertise combined with accessible communication and authentic personal narrative Keynote Speaking Topics Building Resilience in Uncertain Times Resilience is the ability to navigate adversity, maintain wellbeing under stress, and find hope in challenging circumstances. Owen's framework moves beyond "positive thinking" to address genuine resilience—how to acknowledge real challenges, develop coping strategies, build support networks, and maintain perspective when circumstances are difficult. His personal experience navigating genuine hardship grounds his approach in authenticity rather than platitudes. Managing Uncertainty: From Anxiety to Confidence Uncertainty is increasingly common in contemporary organisational and personal contexts. Owen explores how to recognise anxiety responses, distinguish between productive and unproductive worry, develop psychological flexibility, and build confidence in navigating unpredictability. His practical tools help audiences move from anxiety paralysis to constructive action. Finding Hope in Challenging Times Genuine hope—not denial or minimisation, but realistic optimism grounded in agency—enables individuals to navigate genuine challenges. Owen addresses how to maintain perspective during difficult periods, identify what's within individual control, build meaning in challenging circumstances, and support others navigating hardship. Coping with Change and Life Transitions Change—whether organisational, personal, or both—generates stress and requires coping capability. Owen explores how individuals and organisations can navigate transitions—mergers, restructuring, redundancy, role changes, life stage transitions—with resilience, psychological safety, and focus on what's controllable within uncertainty. Becoming Your Own Therapist: Practical Mental Health Tools Mental health professional support is valuable and sometimes essential, but individuals can also learn therapeutic techniques to support their own mental wellbeing. Owen's framework teaches practical tools including self-awareness, cognitive restructuring, emotional regulation, and self-compassion—techniques drawn from therapeutic practice that audiences can apply independently. Ten to Zen: Practical Mindfulness and Wellbeing Strategies Mindfulness and wellbeing practices need not be complex or time-consuming to be effective. Owen's "Ten to Zen" approach provides accessible practices—meditation, breathing techniques, grounding exercises, reflection—that busy professionals can integrate into daily life to build wellbeing, reduce stress, and improve mental clarity. Hope and Mental Wellbeing in the Workplace Workplace stress significantly impacts mental health and organisational performance. Owen addresses how organisations can foster psychological safety, reduce stigma around mental health, provide mental health resources, and build cultures where employees can sustain wellbeing whilst performing effectively. His approach emphasises both individual and organisational responsibility for mental health. Looking for a mental health or resilience speaker? Owen O'Kane is available for corporate wellness programmes, healthcare conferences, and mental health awareness events. Contact Speaker Agency UK to check availability and discuss your event requirements.