A six-city UK tour
A UK tour in March 2025, in Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, Newcastle and London, including Jamyang Buddhist Centre in Leeds and London.
A talk with David Oromith
Stress and burnout
Most of us know what it is like to feel overwhelmed, run down or close to burnout, at work or at home. This talk looks at the inner causes of stress and burnout, and the tools that help us work with them. David brings together insights from the Buddhist tradition, Western psychology and modern wellbeing research.
He also draws on his own lived experience of depression, anxiety, stress and burnout, and his years working in mental health services.
“Stress isn't what the world does to you”
A four-minute extract from the talk, in which David explains why he rejected the idea that stress is what we bring to the world when he first heard it, and why he later came to find it freeing.
What your audience will take away
Why stress affects people so differently
Why the same pressure affects people so differently, and what that means for how we deal with it.
Catching stress early
Recognising the early signs of stress in the body and mind, before it snowballs.
The three layers of burnout
How to recognise each layer in ourselves or a colleague, and what helps at each stage.
Everyday tools
Practical ways to rest, recover and build wellbeing, drawn from Buddhist practice and emotion research.
A short guided meditation
To try in the room.
PDF notes afterwards
So nobody has to write everything down during the talk.
Layer 1
Emotional exhaustion
What helps: Rest and grounding, even in small pockets.
Layer 2
Loss of meaning
What helps: Reconnecting with why we do what we do, and with other people.
Layer 3
Emotional shutdown
What helps: Brief moments of feeling, used as a doorway back in.
The three layers of burnout described in the talk, each more harmful than the last.
Where David has given this talk
Admiral
A series of team sessions on stress and burnout for Admiral.
Samadhi
An evening for Samadhi in May 2026, with over 150 people booked in the room and online.
Why book David
Mental health background
David started as a mental health support worker at eighteen and went on to work in Liverpool's mental health services, on the wards and in the community.
Lived experience
At his lowest he was signed off work for months, and he speaks about it openly.
Qualified
He is a qualified mindfulness teacher and a Mental Health First Aider.
Trained in Buddhism for over a decade
His root teacher is Dr B. Alan Wallace, a renowned scholar and teacher of Tibetan Buddhism, and David has trained in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition since 2015.
Author and teacher
He wrote A Practical Guide to Mindful Living and Calm Mind, Open Heart, and co-founded Samadhi, a Buddhist wellbeing charity (1207744), where he leads retreats and courses across the UK and online.
Who it's for
David gives this talk to conferences and summits, festivals, workplace wellbeing programmes, NHS and frontline teams, and schools, colleges and universities. It is especially relevant to caring roles, where emotion labour is part of the job.
- Conferences and summits
- Festivals
- Workplace wellbeing
- NHS and frontline teams
- Schools, colleges and universities
Keynote
20 to 45 minutes
For festivals, summits and conference main stages.
Workshop
90 minutes to half a day
With short guided practices, for 20 to 200 people.
Corporate wellbeing day
Full day
For a team, including lunchtime guided meditations and Q&A.
Reduced rates are available for NHS, charity and educational bookings.
What participants said
“I had been to one of David's talks on stress and burnout and was really impressed with him.”
“David is an exceptional speaker, and an asset to Admiral. He brings a sense of calm to the audience, and tangible practices to improve mental health and wellbeing.”
“David has such a calming voice and manner, I was instantly put at ease. Having attended multiple counselling/CBT sessions over the years, I left David's session feeling a little lighter in myself.”
“Fantastic session, I felt inspired and empowered to apply the techniques. Huge thanks to David for sharing his trauma and vulnerabilities and hope in such an easy to understand way.”
“David's sessions have a great consistency and always nuggets of genuine insight that one can take away and adapt to one's personal circumstances. Always leaves me thinking afterwards, which is perfect.”
“I think David touched on thoughts and feelings that resonated with many of the listeners. It is a very simple and yet fundamental shift to think we can change from inside. This really makes sense.”
Questions from organisers
How long is the talk?
From a 20-minute keynote to a full-day programme.
Does it include a guided practice?
Yes. The talk opens with a short guided meditation. Workshops and wellbeing days include more.
Do attendees get anything to take away?
Yes. Everyone gets PDF notes after the talk.
Can it be tailored to our audience?
Yes. David shapes every talk with the organiser.
Online or in person?
Both. Online keynotes and workshops run on Zoom, and David has given this talk to a room and an online audience at the same time.
Do you travel?
David is based in South Wales and travels across the UK. International in-person bookings are considered case by case.
What does it cost?
It depends on the format, so get in touch for a quote. Reduced rates are available for NHS, charity and educational bookings.
Related talks and books
Book this talk
Tell us a little about your event and we will come back within two working days with availability, a fee and a rough idea of how a session could work for your audience.
