Mental Health Champions: Why & How Nick Bracks of Move Your Mind Is Helping To Champion Mental Wellness
Support comes down to people at all levels doing something. The government simply do not do enough and big change only happens when each individual puts their hand up and takes action. If we always wait for others, no big change will happen. It’s up to all of us.
As a part of our series about Mental Health Champions helping to promote mental wellness, I had the pleasure to interview Nick Bracks.
Nick Bracks is a storyteller who has dedicated his adult life to creating positive conversations around mental health.
An acclaimed mental health advocate and successful multi entrepreneur, Nick has delivered 1,000+ mental health seminars around the globe, including two TEDx talks. This came about following his own personal and public battle with mental health and wellbeing.
Creative at heart, Nick is an actor with several films to his name and a two-year role on the well-loved Australian soap, Neighbours. Acting, along with exercise and meditation, is Nick’s foundation for vibrant mental health.
Nick now spends his time advocating for mental health, speaking and interviewing, creating content and acting. His professional life and personal development are perfectly intertwined.
He lives between Australia and the United States.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit. Can you tell us a bit about how you grew up?
I grew up in a well-known Australian family (my father was the premier of Victoria). I always had an active mind and was motivated to excel in sports, specifically middle distance running, in which I competed at a national level. I had a very unique upbringing and all I have known since the age of 12 is to be in the media, which is where my career as an adult also led.
You are currently leading a social impact organization that is helping to promote mental wellness. Can you tell us a bit about what you or your organization are trying to address?
Move Your Mind is a media company with a mission of engaging the masses about mental health to inspire and create change. We do this through digital wellbeing courses, seminars, celebrity and expert interviews hosted by Nick Bracks, and other forms of storytelling. You can check out and sign up to our new Men’s community group here: moveyourmind.me
Can you tell us the backstory about what inspired you to originally feel passionate about this cause?
I grew up in a well known family and had a long battle with depression and anxiety that played out publicly in Australia. I ended up having a career in Entertainment and this opened doors to speak about my experience and help others. I very quickly learnt the power of storytelling and how many lives it can influence. This led to Move Your Mind and a lifelong mission to help others avoid the pitfalls myself and many others have fallen into.
Many of us have ideas, dreams, and passions, but never manifest them. They don’t get up and just do it. But you did. Was there an “Aha Moment” that made you decide that you were actually going to step up and do it? What was that final trigger?
There certainly was. I wanted to be an athlete growing up and nothing could get in the way of that dream. When injury put an end to that the mental health problems started and I spent many years lost and searching for my passion and purpose. The only way I was able to find was by pushing myself out of my comfort zone on a daily basis, trying everything and by the process of elimination finding what I wanted to do. It then really comes down to commitment at all cost — I have spent many years broke, having no one believe in me, failing and struggling but have stuck to my commitment of making change in mental health while building my entertainment career.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?
There are far two many to share and a number of stories are detailed in my book, Move Your Mind: How to Build a Healthy Mindset for Life — you can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Move-Your-Mind-Healthy-Mindset/dp/073039204X — a story I never forget is running a seminar in a company and having an employee who was planning to end his life speak to us and get help. Now he is making huge progress and may not have been here had he made that change. There are endless stories like this.
None of us can be successful without some help along the way. Did you have mentors or cheerleaders who helped you to succeed? Can you tell us a story about their influence?
I could not do anything without mentors and have been lucky to have them through every phase of my life. Again, too many to mention but the most impactful was my uncle Bruce. He always believed in, saw himself in me and was there for me since I was a kid wanted to be an athlete — at the time he would train with me three times per week and comes to my events. He encouraged me as an actor, understood me and always told me I could do it. He sadly passed away recently and has left a lasting impact on me. I am dedicating everything I do to him.
According to Mental Health America’s report, over 44 million Americans have a mental health condition. Yet there’s still a stigma about mental illness. Can you share a few reasons you think this is so?
I think we have a huge way to go. Men for example are still judged for showing vulnerability. It is improving but change takes time and we can never do too much. There is no where near enough preventative education and tools which is what we try to teach through Move Your Mind.
In your experience, what should a) individuals b) society, and c) the government do to better support people suffering from mental illness?
Support comes down to people at all levels doing something. The government simply do not do enough and big change only happens when each individual puts their hand up and takes action. If we always wait for others, no big change will happen. It’s up to all of us.
What are your 5 strategies you use to promote your own wellbeing and mental wellness? Can you please give a story or example for each?
I do the following on the daily:
Exercise: I am from a sporting background so this became part of my life. Movement for me is the best thing I can do for my mental health.
Meditation: I learnt Vedic meditation 10+ years ago and still do it to this day. It changed my life.
Close friends & family: I have a small group of people that offer me unconditional support and I do the same for them — it makes a huge difference.
Work: Having a career that gives me meaning and purpose means I never really work. It’s what I would do regardless and it makes me feel fulfilled.
Habits: Having daily habits and routines really helps me stay in check.
What are your favorite books, podcasts, or resources that inspire you to be a mental health champion?
I really love the Armchair expert with Dax Sheppard podcast and my favourite book is The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. I really love listening to stories from other which is why we started the Move Your Mind podcast — to do just that. Here is a link: nickbracks.com/podcast
If you could tell other people one thing about why they should consider making a positive impact on our environment or society, like you, what would you tell them?
I would ask them ‘what is more important?’. We live in a capitalistic world that takes us away from authenticity. Helping others and leaving the world better than when we entered is the most important thing we can do and makes us feel amazing and connected to others. We will all benefit if more of us think like this.
How can our readers follow you online?
Here are some links — would love you to check them, including the book, podcast and community platform!:
https://www.amazon.com/Move-Your-Mind-Healthy-Mindset/dp/073039204X
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!
Mental Health Champions: Why & How Nick Bracks of Move Your Mind Is Helping To Champion Mental… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.