Nathan Bolton

From elite Special Forces to mental health advocate, Nathan Bolton's story is one of extraordinary courage – both in war and in peace. As a Special Operations Engineer in the Australian Special Forces, Nathan's job was protecting his fellow soldiers from hidden threats, clearing the deadly IEDs that lurked beneath Afghanistan's soil. But the greatest battle he would face wasn't in the desert sands – it was within himself. After two deployments, the psychological toll of combat caught up with Nathan. PTSD and major depression gripped him in his twenties, transforming a once-charismatic soldier into someone who struggled to face each day. His story could have ended there, like too many stories do. Instead, Nathan did something that proved harder than any military operation – he broke his silence and asked for help. Today, at 37, Nathan has emerged not just as a survivor but as a powerful voice for change. His raw honesty about his journey from the heights of "hyper-masculinity" to the depths of depression, and ultimately to healing through vulnerability, has made him a compelling speaker and published author. He shares his experiences not as war stories, but as hard-won wisdom about mental health, resilience, and the liberating power of opening. Nathan's message is clear: while we can't always choose our battles, we can choose how we face them. Through his talks, he demonstrates that true strength is not about being unbreakable – it's about having the courage to piece yourself back together, and help others do the same. Nathan Bolton is an ex-Special Operations Engineer come mental health advocate, who now attempts to improve mental health literacy, break stigma, and promote help-seeking behaviour of not only men but also the wider community. Nathan is an author, and has further advocated for mental health on the SA Premiers Council on Suicide Prevention, Wellbeing SA’s Community Advisory Committee and the SOER military Welfare Association. Today, he has but one goal which is to show others the true strength and power of vulnerability.