Amanda Lipp | Mental Health Speaking Engagements and Workshops

Since age 18, Amanda has been given over 150 speeches and workshops to non-profits, corporations, universities, high schools, and hospitals. She weaves in her personal lessons of mental health recovery and documentary films into a compelling and creative presentation that will challenge the status quo of how we think about mental health.

COVID update:

Amanda is offering virtual speeches and workshops. As a filmmaker, Amanda is able to interview herself and edit in her home studio. For example, UC Davis asked Amanda to submit a video addressing prompts.

Speaking and Workshop Points

Topic 1: Layers of Life: Adversity to Advocacy

Amanda shares her journey from having a mental health breakdown during college to becoming a social entrepreneur and documentary filmmaker. She spent three months cycling within the psychiatric hospital system. She shares how this experience of hitting rock bottom empowered her to channel adversity into advocacy.

Navigating identity, self-stigma, and social stigma
Challenging traditional systems of care and practices
Embracing creativity as an outlet and crafting our mental health narratives

Topic 2: Mental Health Storytelling

Amanda shares the power of filmmaking and storytelling to improve the mental health care system. She shares her production practices and lessons creating over 50 short documentary films about youth treatment programs, digital wellness, art therapy, and more.

Telling stories as mechanisms to build rapport and to promote prosocial help-seeking behavior.
Applying digital advertising methodologies - films and stories as gateways to resources.
Considering sociological, social cognitive, and entertainment-education theories in creative production practices.