David Woods Bartley discusses the moment he was going to commit suicide. Learn how connection saved his life and how it can save countless others from the black monster of depression. 

David Bartley is a nationally recognized speaker, writer, and trainer on the topic of mental health. David is a member of the Placer County Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Advisory Board (MHADAB). He sits on the Board of Directors for the local chapter of the Depression Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), and Bread of Life, a community-benefit educational non-profit. He is also a member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the International Association for Youth Mental Health, the National Storytelling Network’s Healing Story Alliance, and the Stability Network. He holds certifications in Mental Health First Aid for Adults, Mental Health First Aid for Youth, SafeTALK (Suicide Awareness for Everyone), and QPR (Question, Persuade and Refer) an innovative suicide prevention technique.

David has been invited to speak before a wide range of audiences across the country, giving keynote speeches and leading workshops on the topics of mental health, employee engagement, student well-being, and congregational care to organizations such as the United States Food and Drug Administration, Sutter Health, UC Davis, Sacramento State University, William Jessup University, Lyft, Vision Service Plan, CalPERS, Caltrans, the United Methodist Church, the California Highway Patrol, the Sacramento Sheriff’s Department, and Folsom State Prison. 

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

David Woods Bartley: How connection saved my life | David Woods Bartley | TEDxLosGatos

How connection saved my life | David Woods Bartley | TEDxLosGatos

A moment of connection replaces despair with hope, proving transformative and life-saving in the face of clinical depression.

Connection's power transcends human experience, offering hope and salvation even to animals, illustrating its universal impact.

Connection counters despair, creating hope that revitalizes spirits and potentially saves lives from the grip of depression.