Andrea Paquette is a trailblazing mental health advocate, speaker, and leader dedicated to shattering the stigma surrounding mental illness and inspiring hope. Known widely as the Bipolar Babe, Andrea’s journey began with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder in 2005. Faced with the darkest depths of despair, she found herself standing on the edge of life’s fragility. Yet, from this profound struggle emerged a determination to turn pain into purpose and give voice to those who feel unheard.
Andrea has dedicated her career to fostering education and understanding through her work founding the Bipolar Babe Project and co-founding the Stigma-Free Mental Health Society. As President at Stigma-Free Mental Health, she drives her mission to normalize conversations about mental illness, break barriers, and build meaningful connections in schools, workplaces, and communities.
Andrea’s impact is unparalleled—she has delivered over 850+ presentations to diverse audiences across North America, reaching and directly impacting more than 55,000+ individuals. From keynote addresses at high-profile conferences to workshops at schools and workplaces, Andrea’s presentations have resonated with people across all walks of life. Her ability to blend lived experience with evidence-based insights ensures her talks are both inspiring and deeply impactful.
Andrea has captivated audiences across diverse sectors through her impactful and inspiring mental health presentations. Highlights include delivering a powerful virtual keynote for Easterseals South Florida, engaging over 200 attendees at a major fundraiser, and speaking to 600 employees of US Bank from across the United States, addressing workplace mental health and resilience.
She has also graced the stage at prominent events like the 2024 Child and Youth United Way Conference, where her storytelling left a lasting impression, and at Sam Sullivan's Vancouver Public Salon, where her spotlight presentation inspired a crowd of 500 attendees. Andrea’s keynotes have consistently resonated with audiences, creating spaces for vulnerability, learning, and transformation.
Andrea's exceptional contributions have been recognized with numerous prestigious accolades, including the 2023 Alberta Blue Cross - Faces of Wellness Recipient and the 2019 President's Commendation from the Psychiatric Association of Canada. She was prominently featured in a nationally aired Bell Let’s Talk Public Service Announcement, highlighting her commitment to mental health advocacy. Additionally, Andrea’s influence extends to media appearances, including CBC’s documentary "You Can’t Ask That." These are just a few among many other accolades that honour her dedication to breaking mental health stigma and inspiring change.
Whether she is addressing hundreds at a conference or connecting intimately with a classroom of students, Andrea Paquette leaves her audiences inspired, informed, and ready to take action. As a thought leader in the mental health space, she continues to elevate conversations, empower individuals, and champion the fight against mental health stigma on a global scale.
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Andrea was great! People were so engaged and I am getting so much great feedback from the team - there were a little over 700 people on at the peak! It was so encouraging to see so many people ask great questions. She definitely was incredibly impactful and should be proud of all the folks she touched today! Her easy manner of speaking and demeanor really drew in the audience and held their attention. We feel that we made the perfect choice of speakers for this event! Thank you for your assistance!
Andrea was great! People were so engaged and I am getting so much great feedback from the team - there were a little over 700 people on at the peak! It was so encouraging to see so many people ask great questions. She definitely was incredibly impactful and should be proud of all the folks she touched today! Her easy manner of speaking and demeanor really drew in the audience and held their attention. We feel that we made the perfect choice of speakers for this event! Thank you for your assistance!