Frequently Asked Questions

Mark's core expertise is mental health, resilience, suicide prevention, and workplace wellbeing. His signature keynote, 'Balancing the Equation,' weaves personal narrative with evidence-based frameworks (HEAR and NICE) to give audiences both emotional resonance and practical tools. He also speaks on leadership, burnout, psychological safety, compassion fatigue, and stigma reduction — all customized to your audience and sector.

Mark's standard keynote runs 45–75 minutes, with a preferred format of 60 minutes plus audience Q&A. Half-day and full-day workshop formats are also available. For conference panels or shorter slots, a 30-minute version can be arranged. Virtual presentations typically run slightly shorter to maintain audience engagement.

Yes — this is one of Mark's strengths. Every presentation is researched and tailored to the specific organization, industry, and audience. Before any engagement, Mark's team conducts a pre-event discovery conversation to understand your goals, audience profile, organizational culture, and any sensitivities. Stories, case examples, and frameworks are adjusted accordingly.

Yes. Mark has delivered hundreds of virtual keynotes and workshops to audiences around the world, including large-scale broadcast-quality productions. He has a professional home studio setup with broadcast-quality audio and lighting. Interactive elements like live Q&A, polls, and breakout discussions can be incorporated.

Mark's TEDx talk — originally titled 'Why We Choose Suicide' and now titled 'Why We Need to Talk About Suicide' — was filmed at TEDxToronto in September 2013. It has accumulated millions of views globally and is among the most-watched TEDx talks on suicide prevention. In it, Mark shares his personal story of surviving a suicide attempt as a teenager and explores the neuroscience of why suicidal crisis narrows our perceived choices — and why talking matters.

Speaking fees vary based on event type, format, location, and scope of customization. Mark speaks to a wide range of organizations — corporate, nonprofit, healthcare, government, and educational — and pricing reflects the engagement. To receive a detailed quote, please submit an inquiry through the Contact page. Our team typically responds within 24–48 hours.

Yes — and many organizations find this combination particularly impactful. A keynote opens the conversation and creates shared language across a large audience, while a follow-up training workshop deepens the learning in smaller groups. Mark's team can help design a multi-session engagement that fits your event format and timeline.

Yes. Mark's full Speaker Kit — including short, medium, and long bios, an introduction script, keynote topic descriptions, AV requirements, and headshot request information — is available at markhenick.com/SpeakerKit. High-resolution headshots are available upon request by emailing bookings@markhenick.com.

Mark offers a range of training formats including half-day and full-day workshops, multi-session series, and organizational development programs. Core topics include the HEAR framework for processing difficult emotions, the NICE framework for building positive experiences, suicide prevention and crisis response, manager training for mental health conversations, and building psychologically safe teams. All programs include evidence-based content, experiential exercises, and practical tools participants can use immediately.

HEAR is a four-step framework for processing difficult emotions: Hold (create space for the emotion without immediately fixing it), Examine (explore it with curiosity, not judgment), Accept (acknowledge this is your experience right now — not forever), and Release (let the emotion move through naturally). It's designed to interrupt the cycle of emotional suppression and build genuine psychological flexibility.

NICE is a framework for strengthening positive psychological experiences so they become part of long-term wellbeing. It stands for: Notice (actively recognize a positive experience as it's happening), Intensify (enrich the experience through sensory awareness), Connect (link it to your values and what matters to you), and Embed (let the experience sink into memory). It's grounded in positive neuroplasticity research.

Mark's workshops are designed for groups of 15–150 participants for optimal engagement. Larger audiences (150–500+) can be accommodated with adjusted facilitation formats. For very large organizations, Mark can train internal facilitators to scale programs organization-wide.

Yes. Depending on the program, Mark's team can provide pre-event participant guides to prepare attendees, post-event reinforcement resources to sustain learning, digital toolkits including the HEAR and NICE worksheets, and manager guides for follow-up conversations. These are customized to your organization's branding and context upon request.

Mark is based in Toronto, Canada, and travels internationally for in-person engagements. He has spoken across Canada, the United States, Europe, Australia, and beyond. International travel is coordinated through Mark's team and standard travel and accommodation arrangements are outlined in the service agreement.

For best availability, we recommend booking 3–6 months in advance, especially for peak conference season (September–November and January–May). That said, we do occasionally accommodate shorter lead times depending on scheduling — reach out and we'll do our best.

Once you submit an inquiry, Mark's team will follow up within 24–48 hours to confirm availability, discuss your event goals, and share relevant information about fees and logistics. If there's a fit, a pre-event discovery call is scheduled to tailor the presentation to your specific audience before anything is finalized.

We recommend reaching out 3–6 months in advance for standard bookings. For large conferences or events requiring complex coordination, 6–12 months is ideal. Rush bookings (less than 6 weeks out) may be possible depending on Mark's schedule — please contact us directly to check availability.

Mark's standard technical requirements include a wireless lavalier or headset microphone (no handheld), a confidence monitor or screen visible from the stage, a standard HDMI connection for slides, and a clicker/advancer. His full AV rider is included in the event package. For venues with complex setups, his team is happy to connect with your AV coordinator in advance.

The speaker fee covers the keynote or training session itself, pre-event discovery consultation, audience research and presentation customization, and post-event follow-up. Travel, accommodation, and materials costs (e.g. printed workbooks) are separate and outlined in the service agreement. A detailed proposal is provided after initial inquiry.

Mark's fee varies based on the event type, format (in-person vs. virtual), location, and engagement scope. Please submit an inquiry through the Contact page and we'll respond with detailed fee information within 24–48 hours.

Yes, upon request. Book signings, meet-and-greets, and small group receptions can be arranged as add-ons to keynote engagements. These are particularly popular for conferences and healthcare settings where attendees want a more personal connection. Please note these need to be planned in advance and may require additional logistics coordination.

Cancellation terms are outlined in the service agreement signed at booking. Generally, cancellations more than 60 days before the event result in a partial deposit refund. Cancellations within 60 days retain the deposit. For events cancelled within 30 days, the full fee may be due depending on circumstances. We understand that organizational needs change — please reach out as early as possible if your situation shifts.

Recording rights are discussed at booking and outlined in the service agreement. Internal recordings for your organization's use (e.g. for employees who couldn't attend) can typically be arranged. Broader distribution, posting to public platforms, or commercial use requires a separate licensing agreement. Please raise this during the booking process.

A complete speaker kit including bios (short, medium, and long formats), professional headshots, topic descriptions, and introduction templates is available on request through our Resources page or by emailing bookings@markhenick.com. We can also customize introductions and promotional copy for your specific event.

Mark's team typically responds to initial inquiries within 24–48 business hours. A formal proposal — including a suggested program outline, fee structure, and logistics overview — is usually provided within a few days of an initial discovery conversation.

Yes. A deposit is required to hold a date, with the balance due closer to the event. The specific terms are outlined in the service agreement. Deposit amounts and payment schedules vary depending on the scope of the engagement.

Mark's team will provide a content advisory and suggested pre-event communication for your audience. Because some presentations touch on personal experiences with mental health and suicide, giving attendees advance notice — along with local support resources — is standard practice and follows safe messaging guidelines.

Mark speaks openly and directly about suicide — including his own experience as a survivor. He uses safe messaging guidelines to ensure that the content is both honest and responsible. For organizational events, a content advisory is always provided in advance so attendees can prepare. Mark's approach normalizes the conversation without sensationalizing it, which research shows is both safer and more effective for prevention.

Mark's content is adapted for the specific audience at each engagement. His material for corporate wellness events, healthcare professionals, and general audiences is calibrated differently than content designed for clinical teams or youth settings. Content advisories are standard. For events involving young people under 18, additional safeguards and modified content are used in accordance with safe messaging guidelines.

Mark brings a rare combination of lived experience (surviving a suicide attempt as a teenager), clinical expertise (he trained as a mental health clinician and has worked in crisis intervention, community mental health, and provincial and national leadership roles), and communication skill (he is a former broadcaster and has spoken in over 20 countries). He doesn't deliver inspiration without insight — every talk includes practical, evidence-based frameworks audiences can actually use.

Yes — Mark speaks and trains internationally. He has worked with organizations across the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and other countries. Virtual engagements are available worldwide with no geographic limitations.

Yes. Mark is an experienced media commentator and welcomes interview requests on mental health, suicide prevention, resilience, and workplace wellbeing. He has appeared on national television, radio, and podcasts. Media inquiries can be submitted through the Contact page.

Yes. Depending on the engagement, Mark's team can provide post-event reinforcement materials including digital toolkits, HEAR and NICE worksheets, manager conversation guides, and links to the Resources section of this website. These help extend the impact of the presentation beyond the event itself.

Mark works across a broad range of sectors including corporate and financial services, healthcare and hospitals, government and public sector, education and universities, legal and professional services, and nonprofit organizations. His content is calibrated to each sector's specific culture, language, and challenges.

So-Called Normal is available worldwide through major retailers in paperback, audiobook, and ebook formats — including Amazon, Indigo/Chapters, Audible, Kobo, Bookshop.org, and HarperCollins. It was published by HarperCollins Canada.

Yes — the audiobook is available on Audible and other major audiobook platforms, narrated by Sean Patrick Hopkins.

Signed copies are sometimes available through Mark's events and readings. Reach out via the contact page to inquire — or keep an eye on upcoming events.

Absolutely. Many book clubs, school groups, and workplace reading programs have used So-Called Normal. The themes of mental health, family, identity, and resilience make for rich discussion. A full reading guide is available on the Book Community page.

Yes — Mark is available for virtual and in-person book club visits, author Q&As, and literary events. Use the Contact page to make an inquiry.

Currently the book is available in English. Rights inquiries for translation can be directed through the Contact page.

Yes — the ebook edition of So-Called Normal is available on Kobo and other major ebook retailers.