Proven Impact: 20+ Years, 2,500+ Schools, 1 Million+ Students
In memory of Ryan Patrick Halligan 1989-2003
John Halligan is a nationally recognized bullying and suicide prevention speaker who has delivered his powerful presentation, Ryan's Story, to over 2,500 schools across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, reaching more than 1 million students since 2005.
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After losing his 13-year-old son Ryan to suicide in 2003 due to bullying and cyberbullying, John dedicated his life to preventing other families from experiencing this tragedy. His authentic, story-based approach has been featured on Oprah, PBS Frontline, and Primetime with Diane Sawyer, and he received the FBI Director's Community Service Award in 2009.
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Now booking live presentations for the 25-26 and 26-27 school years
No deposit required, no cancellation fees.
Providing the most impactful bullying and suicide prevention presentation for middle and high schools with over 2500 schools visited since 2005 and over one million young souls touched!
Prepare your students for an assembly that doesn’t just move them, it changes how they see themselves and each other.
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This compelling true story shows how one young life can inspire meaningful change in the fight against bullying, cyberbullying, and teen suicide. Rather than preaching, the program challenges students to look inward and reflect honestly on how their words, actions, and silence affect others.
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Students who have stood by on the sidelines are encouraged to step up, support those being targeted, and help stop bullying in all its forms. Along the way, the presentation delivers a strong message about accountability, forgiveness, and choosing compassion even when it’s hard.
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As the creator of this program, I speak openly about my belief that depression was the underlying factor in my son’s death. Bullying is never acceptable, but mental health struggles are too often ignored or minimized. Students learn the importance of taking emotional pain seriously, recognizing warning signs, and seeking help immediately—for themselves or for a friend. Suicide prevention is addressed directly, responsibly, and with care.
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This sensitive, age-appropriate program is designed for students in grades 5–12 and runs 60 minutes. The story itself is shared over approximately 45 minutes, followed by guided discussion that reinforces the lessons and gives students space to reflect.
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Students learn:
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How forgiveness can be healing
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Why self-advocacy and advocating for others can prevent tragedy
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How to move from being a bystander to an upstander
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When and how to speak up and apologize when it matters
Most importantly, students leave with a message they need to hear: you matter, you are valued, and you are not alone.
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This program aligns with current guidance from leading organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Association of School Psychologists. Those organizations rightly caution against suicide-prevention programs that rely on graphic content, detailed methods, or sensationalized storytelling. This presentation intentionally avoids all of that.
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There is no graphic material, no instructional detail, and no romanticizing or oversimplifying suicide. The focus is prevention: empathy, bullying awareness, healthy coping strategies, speaking up, and identifying trusted adults when someone is struggling. The content and language are carefully chosen and delivered with over 20 years of experience and a long record of positive outcomes in schools.
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This presentation is not designed to stand alone. It is delivered with school staff present and is meant to complement existing supports such as classroom instruction, group discussions, and access to trusted adults, an approach consistent with best-practice recommendations.
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Thank you for considering this program for your students.
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One story can change a mindset. One mindset can change a life.
Sincerely,
John Halligan
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PS. Great article for you to read : What Makes Storytelling So Effective For Learning? - Harvard Business Publishing
Student Assembly
Length: 60 minutes
Ryan's Story inspires students to make positive changes in their lives towards reducing bullying, cyber-bullying, and preventing teen suicides. Students are reached deeply and profoundly and are encouraged to examine their lives and how they treat others. Bystanders are inspired to stand by no longer and use their voices to stop others from getting bullied at school or online. All will leave this presentation feeling loved, hopeful, and changed.
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For more information click here.
Parent Presentation
Length: 60 minutes
Ryan’s Story / A Father’s Hard-Earned Lessons About Cyberbullying and Suicide shares the lessons learned from my family's tragedy. It is updated every school year to address the latest social media problems facing preteens and teens. Practical recommendations are provided for parents to prevent suicide and bullying. Parents will get an unambiguous message that they need to step up and take responsibility for how their child uses technology and interact with their peers in person and online.
For more information click here.
Testimonials
My name is Stephanie, and you came to talk at my middle school around 2011. Although I was very young, Ryan's story touched me in ways I didn't think were possible. I know Ryan's story touched many people in my school, even those I thought would ignore it. I graduated high school in 2015 from Chelmsford High, and graduated college (University of Massachusetts Lowell) with a Psychology major and Criminal Justice Minor in spring 2019. Ryans story has stayed with me since I was 14 years old, and I am 22 now. You have imprinted on me, lessons I never would've learned. I am keeping your family in my prayers and heart; and there isn't a week that goes by that I don't think back to the presentation and story you told.
Former Student / Young Adult
Several days ago I had the pleasure to hear your presentation, as I am a staff member at Long Valley Middle School New Jersey. I have been teaching since the fall of 1967, so I have been subjected to far more useless assemblies than I care to remember! Honestly, your program is positively the best presentation for students that I have ever heard. For once, it was something that was real and tangible. Unless students are emotionally hooked into what is being delivered, they walk away unaffected. Yours, however, resonated and was authentic.
Teacher
Thank you for having the courage to tell this story over and over again. I can’t imagine how hard it is to constantly open up and share this unbearable pain. My son asked me to go to your lecture last night, I am embarrassed to say that like every busy parent, I ignored the emails inviting us to this presentation. Having my son who is in the throes of navigating middle school tell me to go, made me get in my car after a long, busy day to sit and listen. Wow, was it worth it. I learned quite a bit about how I need to communicate with my son and have this on-going conversation about how to treat others. Tell your next audience of kids to encourage their parents to attend. Just like peer pressure, children can often persuade their parents to take action better than a slew of emails.
Thank you for dedicating your life to saving our kids lives. I have no doubt you are preventing many kids from hurting themselves and others
Parent
My name is Danielle and I live in New Jersey. Mr. Halligan visited my middle school, H.B.Whitehorne, several years ago. As I have grown older, the impact of his presentation has touched my life.
This is my first year of college and I've been having a hard time transitioning to living away from home. Everyday I tell myself, "you can always turn an ink blot into a butterfly", and that saying keeps me going. With any situation I find myself in, I repeat this saying in my head and it immensely helps me and puts my situation into perspective. Hearing your story and motivation truly inspires me to persevere and make the world a better place.
I think that you are one of the most powerful, motivational voices in the world. Your story is one that everyone must hear and it has changed my outlook on life. I am so thankful for you and your dedication to making this place a better world.
Student
In 2008 you came to my middle school. Ryan's story 100% changed my life. I was bullied very much throughout school and many times planned my out. After Ryan's story, it gave me the perspective of the parents/loved ones' side. I remember specifically you telling us with your voice cracking with emotion that our parents love us SO much. Now 14 years later having my own children I understand that pure deep love that we have for our children. Thank you for sharing Ryan with all of us. I will never forget.💕
Former Student/Now Parent
I am 22 years old. When I was in elementary school you came to my school and I just wanted you to know that many years later your son's story still stays in my head and plays on repeat. I have told my siblings and everyone I know about this. When I was your son's age I went through what he did for many years. And for a long time, my mom blamed herself. She is a single mom of 5. I did try to take my own life many times but then we think of your presentation. Nowadays with everything that is going on in the world, I feel his story should be shared more as depression and bullying have a big factor in this age. I do want to say thank you for impacting my life so much to where years later I still think of your son's story. Please don't think that it hasn't changed someone's life because it changed mine.
Former Student/Now Young Adult
In 2012, you came to my middle school in Bethlehem PA, Nitschmann. The school has undergone major reconstruction since then, but the memories of that assembly still resonate with me to this day. And you couldn't have come at a better time, because a few weeks before that assembly, I started contemplating suicide for the first time in my life. Social isolation made middle school very rough for me and I wanted a quick way out. Your assembly saved my life and helped me see the bright side of life. And I never forgot your words, "You can always turn an ink blot into a butterfly." I was an ink blot in middle school, and your words helped me live long enough to see myself turn into a butterfly. I'm forever grateful for what you did for me that day.
Former Student/Now Young Adult
My name is Samantha and you spoke at my small town school in Kentucky about 16 years ago. I just wanted to take the time to reach out to let you know I still think about your story. What you are doing makes such an impact and I am happy to see you are still traveling and trying to reach as many people as you can.
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I remember how things changed in our school after your presentation. Kids talked to other kids regardless of what "clique" they were in. We graduated the following year and nearly everyone in our class got along. Remembering that is even more important now that I am a parent myself. Thank you for sharing Ryan with us and continuing to share his story, because I know he will continue to change lives.
Former Student/Now Parent
Last week, we welcomed John to speak with our students. His message about bullying, digital cruelty, and getting help was honest, compassionate, and deeply human. You could feel the shift in the room— over 1000 students were silent: listening, reflecting, and talking with trusted adults afterward. The impact was profound.
School leaders: I encourage you to bring John to your campus. He gives students practical language to ask for help and to show up for one another, and he assures them that they are “loved beyond belief.” This is the kind of assembly that doesn’t end when the bell rings—it starts conversations that save lives.
Middle School Principal
You don’t know me, but I grew up in the very rural Grand Isle, VT, and I wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas and thank you for the impact you had on me.
In 8th grade (around 2007/2008), my parents moved me to the Essex school district where my older sister attended EHS, to help me escape the bullying. Not long after, I heard you speak about your son. Your message helped me feel understood in a way I hadn’t before as a child struggling with suicidal thoughts, even though I continued to struggle internally for several years (until college) as I came to terms with my sexuality.
I just wanted you to know that your courage in sharing your story truly saved my life. Thank you for all of the lives you've touched, and I wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season.
Former Student/Now Young Adult
Schedule
Find an available date that works for your school and makes sense for where I'm booked the day before and after. Email me your requested date at
or call me at 802-578-8229
Frequently Asked Questions
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Q: What grades is this presentation appropriate for?
A: Grades 5-12. The content is identical for all grade levels and is universally age-appropriate and relevant.
Q: How long is the presentation?
A: 60 minutes total: approximately 45 minutes for the story, followed by 15 minutes of guided discussion.
Q: Is there a minimum or maximum audience size?
A: No. Small schools can combine audiences at one location if desired to share cost. Largest audience so far about 2000 and you could still hear a pin drop in between sentences.
Q: Should we wait if our school recently experienced a crisis?
A: Yes. It's recommended to wait a full year after a student suicide or crisis before scheduling this presentation.
Q: What does our school need to provide?
A: Screen, projector, audio system, microphone, and laptop sound connection. John brings his own laptop, cables, and adapters. The presentation is also available on thumb drive (Keynote and PowerPoint). Internet is not required.
Q: Will this presentation trigger students who are already struggling with suicidal thoughts or "plant a new idea" in others?
A: No. The presentation is designed with safety protocols aligned with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). It intentionally avoids graphic content, detailed methods, and romanticizing or sensationalizing suicide. School counselors and mental health staff are always present during the presentation. Pre-presentation materials help prepare students, and post-presentation materials help them process the story and its core messages. The focus is on prevention, empathy, healthy coping strategies, and connecting students with trusted adults.
Contact Information
John P Halligan
59 Village Rd
Southington, CT 06489
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802-578-8229
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