Danny & Kieron Cunningham
Danny & Terry Newton
His Story
Danny Sculthorpe played nearly 300 professional rugby league matches for Wigan Warriors, Castleford Tigers, Wakefield Trinity, Huddersfield Giants and Widnes Vikings — earning eight England caps and captaining the tour to South Africa.
In 2010, a prolapsed disc ended everything overnight. What followed was devastating — loss of identity, loss of his home, and a battle with depression that brought him to a car park with pills and alcohol, ready to end his life.
"If I hadn't spoken to my wife and parents that day, I wouldn't be here. Talking saved my life."
Today, as a certified MHFA instructor and advocate for mental health and personal growth, Danny has spent 15 years proving that vulnerability is strength.
Read His Full Story →The Turning Point
In this powerful interview, Danny Sculthorpe sits down with his brother Paul Sculthorpe MBE — former Warrington Wolves, St Helens and England captain — to speak openly about the darkest period of his life and the moment that turned everything around.
Following the end of his professional rugby league career, Danny found himself in a mental health crisis that nearly cost him his life. Isolated, struggling with his identity and battling severe depression, he reached a point of no return — until one honest conversation changed everything.
This is the conversation Danny now shares in every talk he delivers. It is proof — in his own words — that talking saves lives.
"I was sat in a car park with a bag of tablets and a bottle. That was it. I'd had enough. It was Paul's call that pulled me back."
— Danny SculthorpeWhat Danny Delivers
Authentic sessions rooted in lived experience — tailored for your audience.
Book Danny For Your Organisation
Every talk is tailored to your audience. Select your sector to find out how Danny can make an impact in your world.
What People Say
I had the privilege of meeting and listening to Danny Sculthorpe this week and I was truly inspired by his openness in sharing his personal experiences. His candid approach to discussing mental health and suicide awareness is not only refreshing but also incredibly impactful. Danny's commitment to creating a supportive environment for those struggling with mental health challenges is commendable. I left feeling energised and motivated to contribute to this vital cause.
Sitting in a session with Danny Sculthorpe this morning was a powerful reminder that these conversations aren't a "one and done." They are a constant necessity. Danny shared a perspective that really put the scale of this into context — and this isn't just a "macho" industry issue. We are seeing a terrifying rise in suicide rates among women in the UK too. These conversations matter for everyone.
The honesty about the darker moments, contemplating suicide, really landed in the room. Having lost my own dad to suicide, it did make me cry — but it also reinforced why this work matters so much. Seeing a huge room, mostly men, making genuine connections around vulnerability, consequences and care for one another will forever be one of my favourite things. A huge thank you to Danny for bravely sharing his story.
Top man, honest, challenging and hard hitting messages about the importance of mental fitness and how important and brave it is to reach out when things get difficult. Also the role and responsibility of us all to check in with family, friends and colleagues when we see someone struggling. Thanks again Danny.
Danny brings a rare combination of authenticity, credibility and empathy to every environment he works in. With students, he has a natural ability to connect — breaking down barriers, building trust quickly, and inspiring them to reflect, grow and raise their aspirations. His sessions are not just engaging; they are transformative. Learners leave with a stronger sense of self-belief, resilience and accountability. Danny doesn't just deliver sessions — he creates lasting impact.
Danny made an immediate impact with his stories. By the end of the week you couldn't fit everyone into the rooms where we were due to speak — people were stood at the back. This was after the first couple of talks had been to maybe a dozen people. Once Dan was on board the size of the audiences grew and grew by word of mouth, some people even came back the next day to watch the talk again. Dan brought a great mix of honesty, warmth and humour to the talks. I would recommend Dan to any company or organisation looking for the highest quality speaker for their audience.
What we got was an honest and invaluable insight into the causes and the coping mechanisms of mental health. Danny was received fantastically well from all who attended and everyone commented on how they got something from the presentation. I would definitely recommend Danny and his team to any business, sports team or professional organisation and feel that they would benefit from not only his experiences but guidance and help in the mental health field.
There is no better way to demonstrate the importance of mental health awareness than what you did today, Danny. Truly lead by example. We hope the gentleman gets all the support needed and we look forward to seeing you back at Project Group UK for Mental Health Awareness training soon.
The graduation was more than a ceremony. It was a reminder that resilience is often built quietly, behind the scenes. During the ceremony, we were inspired by keynote speaker Danny Sculthorpe, who spoke openly about his own journey through injury, depression and rebuilding resilience. His honesty about the mental and physical battles behind professional sport was incredibly powerful — a reminder that resilience looks different for everyone.
Danny openly shared his personal journey, giving our team a real and relatable perspective on the challenges that can impact anyone, regardless of background or profession. His honesty, practical guidance and supportive advice equipped our staff with valuable tools to better understand, approach and support mental health. It was an inspiring session that left a lasting impact on everyone who attended.
What a pleasure it was to meet Danny and listen to his story this week. An incredible man who has fought some of the toughest battles and come out on top. Thank you Danny Sculthorpe for taking the time to share your story and remind all of us of the importance of talking.
Danny's sessions delivered powerful and honest personal experiences from himself, along with practical advice and signposting to more support. The sessions reflect our ongoing commitment to colleague wellbeing and the importance we place on creating a supportive, open culture where mental health is taken seriously. A huge thank you to Danny for delivering the sessions and helping us continue this important conversation long after the sessions have finished.
We were privileged to welcome Danny Sculthorpe, who shared his personal journey with honesty and real impact. His message around resilience, mental fitness and looking after one another truly resonated across the room and sparked some powerful conversations. A hugely engaging and productive day — and a strong reminder that safety, wellbeing and people always come first.
Thank you, Danny, for delivering such an insightful awareness session. It was great to be part of it.
Thank you to our guest speaker Danny Sculthorpe who delivered a brilliant talk on mental health and wellbeing, highlighting the importance of removing the stigma attached in the construction industry.
Great session today delivered by Danny Sculthorpe. Investing in mental wellness training isn't just a tick-box exercise, it's a commitment to creating workplaces where people can genuinely thrive. When we look after our minds, everything else flows from there. Really grateful for today's session and the reminder of how important it is to keep investing in ourselves and each other.
The Decommissioning Alliance was pleased to support the delivery of mental health sessions in schools, delivered by Danny. These sessions were engaging and age appropriate, creating a safe space for young people to explore mental health and wellbeing. Feedback from schools highlighted positive engagement and increased confidence among students to talk openly about their mental health.
I have been fortunate enough to be present at many of Danny's excellent Mental Health and Fitness presentations over a number of years. Danny is authentic, honest, at times emotional and always inspirational. His appearances have been among the highlights of our Men's Group.
It's been nearly two years since you last delivered your fantastic mental health support session at Portico Vine Rugby League Club. The benefits from that session were incredible and it gave many individuals the strength to speak out to others at our club and say "I need help." The Masters, the Open Age, and the u15s all believe they will benefit from your guidance and experience.
I had the privilege of meeting and listening to Danny Sculthorpe this week and I was truly inspired by his openness in sharing his personal experiences. His candid approach to discussing mental health and suicide awareness is not only refreshing but also incredibly impactful. Danny's commitment to creating a supportive environment for those struggling with mental health challenges is commendable. I left feeling energised and motivated to contribute to this vital cause.
Sitting in a session with Danny Sculthorpe this morning was a powerful reminder that these conversations aren't a "one and done." They are a constant necessity. Danny shared a perspective that really put the scale of this into context — and this isn't just a "macho" industry issue. We are seeing a terrifying rise in suicide rates among women in the UK too. These conversations matter for everyone.
The honesty about the darker moments, contemplating suicide, really landed in the room. Having lost my own dad to suicide, it did make me cry — but it also reinforced why this work matters so much. Seeing a huge room, mostly men, making genuine connections around vulnerability, consequences and care for one another will forever be one of my favourite things. A huge thank you to Danny for bravely sharing his story.
Top man, honest, challenging and hard hitting messages about the importance of mental fitness and how important and brave it is to reach out when things get difficult. Also the role and responsibility of us all to check in with family, friends and colleagues when we see someone struggling. Thanks again Danny.
Danny brings a rare combination of authenticity, credibility and empathy to every environment he works in. With students, he has a natural ability to connect — breaking down barriers, building trust quickly, and inspiring them to reflect, grow and raise their aspirations. His sessions are not just engaging; they are transformative. Learners leave with a stronger sense of self-belief, resilience and accountability. Danny doesn't just deliver sessions — he creates lasting impact.
Danny made an immediate impact with his stories. By the end of the week you couldn't fit everyone into the rooms where we were due to speak — people were stood at the back. This was after the first couple of talks had been to maybe a dozen people. Once Dan was on board the size of the audiences grew and grew by word of mouth, some people even came back the next day to watch the talk again. Dan brought a great mix of honesty, warmth and humour to the talks. I would recommend Dan to any company or organisation looking for the highest quality speaker for their audience.
What we got was an honest and invaluable insight into the causes and the coping mechanisms of mental health. Danny was received fantastically well from all who attended and everyone commented on how they got something from the presentation. I would definitely recommend Danny and his team to any business, sports team or professional organisation and feel that they would benefit from not only his experiences but guidance and help in the mental health field.
There is no better way to demonstrate the importance of mental health awareness than what you did today, Danny. Truly lead by example. We hope the gentleman gets all the support needed and we look forward to seeing you back at Project Group UK for Mental Health Awareness training soon.
The graduation was more than a ceremony. It was a reminder that resilience is often built quietly, behind the scenes. During the ceremony, we were inspired by keynote speaker Danny Sculthorpe, who spoke openly about his own journey through injury, depression and rebuilding resilience. His honesty about the mental and physical battles behind professional sport was incredibly powerful — a reminder that resilience looks different for everyone.
Danny openly shared his personal journey, giving our team a real and relatable perspective on the challenges that can impact anyone, regardless of background or profession. His honesty, practical guidance and supportive advice equipped our staff with valuable tools to better understand, approach and support mental health. It was an inspiring session that left a lasting impact on everyone who attended.
What a pleasure it was to meet Danny and listen to his story this week. An incredible man who has fought some of the toughest battles and come out on top. Thank you Danny Sculthorpe for taking the time to share your story and remind all of us of the importance of talking.
Danny's sessions delivered powerful and honest personal experiences from himself, along with practical advice and signposting to more support. The sessions reflect our ongoing commitment to colleague wellbeing and the importance we place on creating a supportive, open culture where mental health is taken seriously. A huge thank you to Danny for delivering the sessions and helping us continue this important conversation long after the sessions have finished.
We were privileged to welcome Danny Sculthorpe, who shared his personal journey with honesty and real impact. His message around resilience, mental fitness and looking after one another truly resonated across the room and sparked some powerful conversations. A hugely engaging and productive day — and a strong reminder that safety, wellbeing and people always come first.
Thank you, Danny, for delivering such an insightful awareness session. It was great to be part of it.
Thank you to our guest speaker Danny Sculthorpe who delivered a brilliant talk on mental health and wellbeing, highlighting the importance of removing the stigma attached in the construction industry.
Great session today delivered by Danny Sculthorpe. Investing in mental wellness training isn't just a tick-box exercise, it's a commitment to creating workplaces where people can genuinely thrive. When we look after our minds, everything else flows from there. Really grateful for today's session and the reminder of how important it is to keep investing in ourselves and each other.
The Decommissioning Alliance was pleased to support the delivery of mental health sessions in schools, delivered by Danny. These sessions were engaging and age appropriate, creating a safe space for young people to explore mental health and wellbeing. Feedback from schools highlighted positive engagement and increased confidence among students to talk openly about their mental health.
I have been fortunate enough to be present at many of Danny's excellent Mental Health and Fitness presentations over a number of years. Danny is authentic, honest, at times emotional and always inspirational. His appearances have been among the highlights of our Men's Group.
It's been nearly two years since you last delivered your fantastic mental health support session at Portico Vine Rugby League Club. The benefits from that session were incredible and it gave many individuals the strength to speak out to others at our club and say "I need help." The Masters, the Open Age, and the u15s all believe they will benefit from your guidance and experience.
Book Danny
Whether it's a keynote, school session, workplace wellbeing day or MHFA training — Danny brings raw honesty and genuine change to every room he enters.
