Mental Health Training · Keynote & Workshop
Early Responders
Spot the signs. Start the conversation. Respond with confidence.
ER is a practical, neuroscience-informed mental health training designed to help people recognise distress in others and take meaningful action — before things reach a crisis point.
The Session
Not a therapist. A confident first responder.
Most people want to help when they sense someone is struggling. The problem isn't willingness — it's knowing what to say, when to say it, and how to say it without making things worse.
ER gives people the tools to respond early and well. Whether you're a leader, colleague, teacher, parent, or friend, this session closes the gap between noticing and acting.
It's not about becoming a therapist. It's about becoming the kind of person who doesn't walk past.
It's not about becoming a therapist — it's about becoming a confident first responder in conversations that matter.
You'll leave knowing how to
- ✓ Spot the early signs of distress in someone else
- ✓ Start a conversation without saying the wrong thing
- ✓ Respond with calm, practical tools — not panic
- ✓ Support someone well without taking on their load
- ✓ Know when and how to refer someone to further support
- ✓ Look after your own wellbeing while caring for others
Perfect for
Who should attend
Workplace & Business
Teams, leaders, managers, HR, People & Culture. Volunteer groups. High-demand, high-output environments.
Education
Staff PD days, staff meetings, school leadership teams, teaching staff, school communities.
Events & Conferences
Community events, leadership off-sites, strategy days, wellbeing conferences.
Community Groups
Parents, friends, carers — anyone who regularly shows up for others and wants to do it well.
Delivery
Flexible formats
60–90 Minutes
- Interactive workshop or keynote format
- Engaging, practical, and solution-focused
- Tailored to your event and audience
Combined with Working Well
- ER pairs naturally with Working Well
- Book both for a full-day workplace wellbeing programme
- Seamless narrative across both sessions
Available Nationwide & Internationally
- In-person across New Zealand and internationally
- Online delivery available on request
From Julia
This work is personal
I began sharing my own mental health story publicly in 2015. What followed changed everything — the conversations, the people who reached out, the realisation that what felt deeply private was actually incredibly common.
Early Responders exists because the moment someone notices and acts is often the moment everything changes. You don't need to be a professional. You just need to know how to show up. I'd love to help your team do that.
— Julia Grace
Julia Grace — Mental Health Speaker, Author & Educator
What Audiences Say
Heard from the room
"Julia Grace truly has a gift to explain what could be a heavy topic in a way that is understandable, relatable and real."
Staff Event · Auckland
"When I saw the speaker was on for 90 mins I thought oh no! But when she finished I thought she could have gone for way longer — I loved every minute."
School Teams Event
Book Julia
Bring Early Responders to your team
Available across New Zealand and internationally, in keynote or workshop format. Can be combined with Working Well for a full-day programme.