Speaker Biography
Lynn Keane is an author, athlete and passionate advocate for suicide prevention and mental wellness. Since the sudden passing of her son Daniel in 2009, she has dedicated her life to sharing her family’s story, examining depression and suicide prevention and how education, advocacy and compassion are critical to changing outcomes for future generations.
Lynn’s work has also been featured in The National Post, The Globe & Mail, and Moods Magazine, CBC, CTV and TVO’s The Agenda with Steve Paikin and interviewed by The Huffington Post, CKNW The Bill Good Show, The Vancouver Sun, CBC Metro Morning and CHCH amongst others. By sharing such a painful story, she hopes to increase understanding of the universal relevance of mental health awareness, and provide support to families who have experienced suicide.
She has found help in the healing power of movement. Lynn has 25 years of distance running, including six-Boston Marathon finishes and becoming an Ironman athlete in her 60’s. From high school track to race-director to the most notable finish lines in the world, running has been a constant north star.
She explore life as a mom, caregiver, suicide prevention warrior and survivor and how the act of pushing her body has helped her to be resilient and strong in the face of life’s brutality.
Lynn’s memoir, Give Sorrow Words, has been widely praised by psychologists, parents and the mental health community alike, with accolades from CBC The Sunday Edition, The Canadian Mental Health Association (Peel Branch), Professor of Psychiatry and Pharmacology University of Toronto and journalist Michael Landsberg. Interweaving memories of the last months of her son’s life with lyrical explorations of the grieving process, the book unflinchingly documents warning signs in depression and asks pressing questions about how our society treats mental illness.
What support is provided to young people living with mental illness? Why is there still such stigma attached to the disease of depression, despite it being so prevalent? Lynn makes a compelling argument for additional support and treatment for those impacted by an often life-threatening illness. In addition to publications and publicity, Lynn continues to engage with the local community.
As a founder and Co-Race Director of The Muskoka Rocks Road Races, she contributed to raising more than $500,000 for a camp for children living with cancer. Through advocacy, an open approach, and working with mental health professionals and organizations, Keane has become a passionate, highly respected voice on depression and suicide prevention in Canada.
Lynn Keane has been an ambassador for the national Canadian mental health awareness campaign Bell Let’s Talk Day and has appeared as a guest on several national television shows, including CTV.Lynn’s is creator and producer of the popular anti-bullying videos, Good Sports Don’t Hurt: Harassment Does, shared with schools across Canada
She is a member of Trillium Health Partners, Youth and Family League for PROJECT NOW in Mississauga, Ontario, whose goal is zero suicide. She is also a long-time contributor to #SickNotWeak, a mental health and suicide prevention platform.
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