Sean is a Mental Health First Aid England Instructor Member, inspirational plenary speaker and an award-winning coach who speaks openly and passionately about all things health and recovery from lived experience.
About Sean
I am Sean Bailey, I am 37 years old and I have been deeply involved within coaching and health and wellbeing for 12 years.
In 2005 I suffered a life changing injury whilst playing sport, I broke and dislocated my neck at the C5 and C6 vertebrae level. Immediately following the injury, I had significant surgery, was placed in an induced coma and was hospitalised for 6 months.
Remarkable Recovery
Upon transfer to a spinal cord injury rehabilitation unit I was categorically told that, “I would never walk again.” My rehabilitation ‘ripped up the manual’ and I walked out of hospital several months later with a variety of walking aids. The rehabilitation was tough, however the application of several key principles; activity, sleep, hydration and nutrition, played a vital role in my successful recovery.
During the rehabilitation I was ultra-motivated to ensure I undertook additional physical activity, I always tried to get at least 8 hours of sleep and my hydration levels and nutrition were both very specific and played a key role during the recovery process.
”The rehabilitation was tough, however the application of several key principles; activity, sleep, hydration and nutrition, played a vital role in my successful recovery.
Award Winning Coaching
My first involvement in coaching and facilitation was when I was 18 years old when I delivered many business sessions around the implementation and training of a new business application. In 2007 I undertook my first formal coaching education which eventually led to coaching and leading various Paralympic programs at Manchester United and the Football Association to great success.
Following further international success and recognition I was awarded the BBC Sport Get Inspired Unsung Hero Award in late 2017 for my work within disability sport.
Overcoming Adversity
It was in 2017 that I finally spoke about my mental health challenges. During 2006 I was diagnosed with PTSD but it was something I did not try to think about or speak of. Further issues transpired as time passed by including substance abuse, addiction, anxiety and bouts of depression.
Putting in place a recovery plan, again going by the key principles applied to the physical trauma I experienced with spinal cord injury; sleep, hydration, activity and nutrition, I was able to recover and manage my mental and physical wellbeing to an unparalleled level within my life time.
”These experiences have led me to today where I can confidently and openly talk about my lived experience of trauma, mental illness and recovery.
Founding Sean Bailey Wellness
I have worked in Corporate world for 20 years and I have experienced so many negative wellness stories in various forms. And current day culture towards health and wellness is strikingly similar to the culture when I started my career 20 years ago. I started to harness my experience gained through coaching, sports science and fitness with a view that sport and health are deeply connected, and using this experience I could make a positive difference to peoples lives. And this is what I did, using my experiences from sport, I started to co-ordinate many health and wellness initiatives for large groups and individuals on a regular basis.
These experiences have led me to today where I can confidently and openly talk about my lived experience of trauma, mental illness and recovery. Harnessing these experiences, principles and my deep understanding of health and wellness I passionately empower people by coaching the principles of good health and wellness.
My education in the area of health and wellbeing has spanned from Culinary Medicine and Personal Training to Sleep Deprivation and Habits to Mental Health First Aid with many facets in-between.
Work with Sean Bailey Wellness
Get in touch to chat about a tailored program for you or your workplace.
