HAVING recently shared her struggles with mental health and overcoming a range of challenges in a BBC documentary, Gail Porter has joined motivational speaker agency, Speaker Buzz.
In ‘Being Gail Porter’, Edinburgh-born and London-based Porter shared the ups and downs of her career and life and in particular her experiences of mental health illness, which included being sectioned.
Driven by widespread praise for her honesty and a determination to contribute to awareness of mental health, Porter will use her experiences to help others through her work as a motivational speaker with the Edinburgh-based agency. Speaker Buzz represents hand-picked motivational speakers who focus on topical issues such as mental health, wellbeing, the environment and climate change.
Through her own experiences and her work with the likes of Mind, Samaritans and Bipolar Scotland, and previous speaking engagements for organisations such as Diageo, Porter has become a passionate and recognised mental health campaigner.
With mental health rising up the agenda in the media, the corporate world and society in general, Porter is determined to use her experiences and voice to help others and push the conversation forwards.
While enjoying a successful career as a television presenter and personality, which included spells working on Top of The Pops, The Big Breakfast and Live & Kicking, and model, Porter suffered from self-doubt, anxiety, depression and anorexia.
Having seen her naked image projected onto the Houses of Parliament without her consent, she later went on toexperience post-natal depression, alopecia, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, divorce and homelessness.
Porter said: “I’ve reached a stage in my life and career where I’m in a good place, and I want to use the experiences I’ve been through to help others. So many people have helped me and I’d like to give that support to others.
“If I can go into an organisation and share my story in a way that helps anyone listening or helps the company create a healthy working environment and culture, then that’s great. I know from my own experiences and from talking to others that we’re all facing increasing pressures and personal challenges, so I think it’s crucial we become more open about issues such as mental health and emotional wellbeing.”
In her motivational talks, Porter will share her story to help individuals and organisations better understand the mental health issues which are increasingly prevalent in today’s world and workplace, and to how to support those experiencing problems.
Having overcome a series of personal challenges, she will discuss topics such as overcoming adversity, resilience, confidence, supporting women in society and creating a culture of kindness.
Debbie Byers, founder of Speaker Buzz, added: “With our Edinburgh connection, I’ve followed Gail’s life and career over the years. I thought she was incredibly brave to share her experiences in the BBC documentary, and I know she can be a huge help and inspiration to others. We both share a determination to improve wellbeing and make a difference to the world so I’m looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together.”
In addition to her work as a motivational speaker, Porter is an ambassador for several charities, including SSPCA and Shelter Scotland, and is working on a new autobiographical book, the follow-up to 2007’s Laid Bare.
Speaker Buzz represents speakers including Mollie Hughes, who recently became the youngest woman in the world to ski solo to the South Pole and former Scotland rugby captain John Barclay, who help inspire individuals and organisations to make positive changes and a difference to the world.
