Hello, I’m Zak Wilkinson, and I have a message that’s as raw as it is real. I speak from the heart because I’ve lived it the mental health struggles, addiction and trauma.
My journey took me to the edge. I spent years chasing an unattainable image, struggling with body dysmorphia and steroid addiction before anxiety and PTSD began consuming more and more of my life. Eventually, everything came crashing down and I found myself fighting for my life in an induced coma.
Today, I use that lived experience to start conversations that matter, particularly across construction, where people can still find it difficult to speak openly when something isn’t right.
Through my keynote talks, I share the realities of addiction, body image, trauma and mental health, but also what recovery and rebuilding can look like after reaching your lowest point.
This isn’t simply about raising awareness. It’s about helping people recognise what may be happening in themselves or somebody around them, encouraging earlier conversations and reminding people that asking for support can make a difference.
I know what it feels like to keep things inside and believe you have to deal with everything yourself. If sharing my story helps someone else speak sooner, then the conversation has been worth having.
In episode 34 of the Onward Shift Podcast, I sit down with Zak Wilkinson for a raw and deeply eye-opening conversation about steroid use, addiction, body image pressure and recovery.
Zak shares his personal journey from chasing the “perfect physique” as a teenager to experiencing a near-fatal health crisis that left him in a coma and completely changed the direction of his life. This episode explores the mental and physical toll steroids can have, along with the dangerous pressure many young men feel through social media, comparison culture and unrealistic body standards.
Together, we talk honestly about addiction, masculinity, self-worth and the stigma surrounding mental health within male-dominated industries like construction and fitness. Zak opens up about the darkest periods of his life, the emotional battles that came with recovery and the resilience it took to rebuild his health, mindset and sense of identity.
This is more than just a warning story it’s a powerful conversation about accountability, growth, recovery and the importance of asking for help before things spiral too far.
I just wanted to take a moment to thank you and give some positive feedback on the presentation you delivered at the Envision 1 Giga Factory.
Your talk on mental health was not only powerful but incredibly relatable. You spoke with real honesty, and it clearly struck a chord with many of us. It’s not always easy to open up or tackle such an important topic, especially in environments like ours, but you did it with confidence, clarity, and authenticity.
The message behind Zak really resonated, and I know your story and the tools you shared will stick with people for a long time. It’s great to see conversations around mental health being normalised, and you played a huge part in moving that forward here.
Thanks again for making the time to speak to the team.
Zak done numerous presentations to groups of 30. Totalling well over 400 operatives on site. The presentation was brilliant and the engagement between Zak and the operatives was great to see. His insight and knowledge of what he presents its second to none and everyone who walked away from the session walked away with further understanding and knowledge of addiction.
I would highly recommend Zak as this subject is barely spoke about but a massive issue not just in our industry but in every day life.
Zak’s incredible presentation provided fascinating insight into his personal struggles. It was factual, thought provoking and heartfelt.
Zak allowed our service users to see a different side of recovery and helped them to understand that addiction isn’t solely related to drugs and alcohol.
Yes. Our keynote speakers can be booked by construction companies, education providers and other organisations looking to start meaningful conversations around mental health and lived experience.
Pricing varies depending on the speaker, location, session length and requirements. We’ll provide a clear price before anything is booked.
Yes, we can travel across the UK and beyond.
Construction is our main focus, although our speakers can also share their experiences with audiences outside the industry where the subject and message are a good fit.
A keynote is primarily designed to share a powerful message or lived experience with a wider audience. Workshops are usually more interactive and give people more opportunity to explore a particular mental health topic, ask questions and take part in discussion or practical activities.
Imagine a project team that has spent months working under a difficult client, dealing with changing instructions and constant pressure to recover time. People are
Whenever I stand in front of a construction audience, I know there will usually be a few people wondering what a mental health talk has
Helping construction, one conversation at a time.
Helping construction, one conversation at a time.
