Lauren McDonough
“I can’t say enough about how truly inspirational Lauren McDonough is. From the moment I met her, I was struck by her incredible passion and drive. She is someone who is always willing to go above and beyond to achieve her goals and help others along the way. Lauren’s dedication to her advocacy work is unparalleled. After speaking at our luncheon event she was applauded standing ovation as she moved the room with her words, resilience and strength”
“Lauren’s story is so powerful, it changed my whole approach to how I want to live my life and also my approach to others struggling with their mental health. I felt overwhelmingly grateful for the opportunity to hear Lauren speak. ”
“Laurens storytelling ability when reflecting on such an incredibly personal, sensitive and heartbreaking yet life changing experience is incredible. The ability to be vulnerable and to show off every scar, emotional and physical, to help others through their own mental health journeys is incredibly generous and brave. She’s a very special person inside and and is doing incredible things for the community.”
Lauren McDonough is a Mental Health Advocate and speaker, suicide survivor, hope dealer, amputee and a disabled, curve model.
The topic of mental health is something that means everything to Lauren. The drive and endless dedication she has towards ending mental health stigma as well as helping society have a better understanding around mental health and suicide stems from her own lived experience.
Lauren had lived with mental health conditions throughout her adolescence and early adulthood. However at the age of 19, she hit rock bottom. In an attempt to end her own life, Lauren became physically disabled and lost both of her legs. Throughout the following months, she was in for the the fight for her life. Not expected to survive, she underwent countless surgeries and painful procedures. She then received the news that she would never would never walk again by doctors. In that moment, she lost all hope and genuinely believed things would never get better.
Defying all odds, she not only survived, but she learnt to walk again. Since that moment it has become her mission to share her experiences to help others and to show people that there is always hope. The adversity and challenges she has experienced within her own journey enables her to speak about mental health from a perspective that is extremely authentic, insightful, powerful, and is able to create meaningful and impactful change around mental health.
She has also gained a new love and appreciation for her body and also works as a disabled curve model.
She wants to empower others and show people that all bodies are amazing, strong and beautiful. She wants to be a role model to others through showing them that they the bodies people have don’t need changing at all, but the beauty standards put onto us from such young age needs to change instead.
Lauren loves spending time with her family, friends and beloved dogs Indy and Zahra. She cherishes the time she gets to spend with them more than anything. She also loves fashion, reading a good book and writing.
SUPERPOWER – Authenticity, vulnerability, empathy, the ability to change perspectives and create meaningful, effective change through real, genuine conversations. She is hilariously funny, with a self-depreciating humour that brings enormous light to such an often heavy topic!
Lauren’s story is an incredible story of overcoming adversity and is story that exemplifies courage, strength and determination but most importantly, how hope can always be found even in the darkest of times.
SPEAKING HISTORY
Channel 7 News
Chemist Warehouse Australia
House Of Wellness TV
The Liptember Foundation
Loreal Australia
Local Community groups ( Church Parish ) ( Kids basketball Team )
Bayside City Council
Berry Street Org
KIC podcast with Steph Claire Smith & Laura Henshaw
Listenable Podcast with Dylan Alcott ( Paralympian, Australian of The year ) & Angus O’lauglin
Frank Body Podcast
The Spoonie Society Lunch On
Henne Head office
Pascoe Vale Girls College
Mindfull Aus Community Event- Loved & Worthwhile
CATEGORIES/THEMES
Surviror
Suicide Prevention
Mental Health & Wellness
Resilience
Self-Worth & Confidence
Resilience
Hope
Mindset
